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MW-YORK STATE AGRICULTURAl SOCIETY 



1844 






ARRANGEMENT tor DIFFUSING AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE 

THROUGH THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF 

COMMON SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES, 

WITH THE CO-OPERATION of the OFFICERS OF THE COMMON-SCHOOL ORGANIZATION- 



TOGETHER WITH THE 

PEEMIUM LIST AND KEGULATIONS 

OF THE 

ANNUAL PAIR AND CATTLE SHOW. 

(TRIAL OF IMPLEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FAIR, ON TUESDAY THE 17th : 
GENERAL CATTLE-SHOW AND FAIR ON THE 18th AND 19th.) 



(Concerning; the Annual Fair and Catttle Show at Poughkeepsie in 1844.) 

Circular from the officers of the State Society concerning arrangements, &c. Page 3 

Premium List— Premiums for Farms, Books, Essays, Experiments, &c. 4 

Premiums and Judges on Cattle and Horses, 6 

Premiums on Mules, Sheep, Swine, Implements, Dairy, Sugar, &c., 

Premiums on Silk, Domestic Manufactures, Fruits, Flowers &c. 7 

Premiums for Plowing Match, Field Crops, &c., &c., 7 

Corapctition from other STates — Regulations, &c. 8 

(In reference to Agricultural Education :) 

Proceedings at the Origin of the Alovement in the Annual Meeting of 1844 Page 9 

Committee appointed, and Premiums offered for Essays and Books, 10 

Proceedings of the State Convention of School Superintendents, 10 

Action of the Executive Committee of thi- State Agricultural Society on the subject, 10 

Keport of the lion John Greig, chairman of the committee of publication, 11 

Opinions of the State Deputy Superintendent of Common Schools, 12 

Letter from Dr. T. Romeyn KecU, of Albany— from Dr. D P. Gardner of New- York, 12 

Letters of Dr. A. J. Prime, of Newburgh — and of John J. Thomas, of Wayne county, 14 

Communication from the Hon. DhiucI Lee, Ch:iiriii:in of the Committee on Ag. in the Assembly, •• IS 

Letters from T. C. Peters, of Genesee— and frmn L. B. Lanpworthy of Monroe, 15 

Remarks of Siinford Howard of Albany — and of I\l. B. Bateham, of Rochester, 18 

Opinion of Gerrit Smith — and,a letter from Henry Barnard of Connecticut, 19 

Opinions in New England — from the editors of the Boston Courier and Mass. Plowman, 21 

Letter from Mr. Colo, of Ihe Hoston Cultivator; ami from Messrs. Harper of New-York, 21 

Concluding Proceedings of the Exec. Committee, and Remarks of Dr. Beekman, 23 

Resolutions of Ale.x. Walsh, Esq., and a notice from the Hon. John Greig, 24 

Opinion of Mr. Wadsworth, Ex-Prcsident State Agricultural Society, 24 



ALBANY : 

FR0 11 THr. 8TEAM PRBSS OP C. VAN BENTHUYSEN & CO. 



1844. 



i: 



J 1844. 

NEW-YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



RRAUEMEMS FOR DIFFUSING AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE 



THROUGH THE INSTRUMENTALITY OF 

COMMOx\ SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES, 

WITH THE CO-OPERATION of the OFFICERS OF THECOMMON-SCHOOL ORGANIZATION. 



TOGETHER WITH THE /O 

PREMIUM LIST AND REGULAp 

OF THE \^ 



ANNUAL FAIR AND CATTLE SHOW.\^ ^-^/^^ 

(TRIAL OF IMPLEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FAIR, ON TUESDAY TSB«a»r-" 
GENERAL CATTLE-SHOW AND FAIR ON THE I8th AND I9lh.) 




(Concerning the Annual Fair and Catttle Show at Poughkcepsie in 1S44.) 

Tirctilir from thf officers of thf State Society concerninj arrangements, &c. Page S 

Piemium Li»t— Prpmiums for Farm?, Fooliii, E^sayy, Kxperiments, Ac. 4 

Premiums a nri Judges on Cattle and Hor^es, ' ft 

Premium^ on Mult s, sheei', Swine, Implements, Dairy, Sugar, 4,c., 6 

Premiums on Silk, Domestic Mauulaclures, Fruits Flowers &c. 7 

Premiums for Plowing Match, Fi«'ld Crops, &.c., Ace, 1 

ComiHftiiiun from other States— Kegulations, &.c. 8 

(In reference to Agricultural Education:) 

Proceedings at the Origin of ti.e Movement in tin- Annual Meeting of Ib44 Page » 

Commitlre apnointed, and Premiums offered lor Essays and Books, 10 

I'roCeedingi' of lae >tato Convfution of School Superintendents, 10 

Action of the Executive Committee of th'- Stale Agricultural Society on the subject, 10 

};eport of li.e Hon Ji.hn Greip, chairman of the committee of publication, 11 

Opinion-* of the State Depoiy Superintendent of Common Sihools, >3 

L'lUT from Dr T. Kome>n Keik, of Albany— fiom Dr. D P. Gardner of New-VorU, Vi 

Lelter> of Dr. A. J. Piinie, of Newhuigh — and of John J. Thomas, of Wayne county. 14 

Communicaiioii from the Hon Dai iel Lee, Cliaiimau of the Conimittee on Ag. in the Assembly, •• IS 

Li'tters from T. C. Peters, of Genesee — and fniiii L. B Lanpwoithy of Monroe, ■. 14 

Keiiiaiks of S^nford Howard ol Albany— and of M. B. Baiehxm, of Kochester, 18 

Op'iiion of Gerrit Smiih— and a l-lier from Henry Barnard of Connecticut, 19 

Oi'inious in New Knuland— Irom the editors of the Hoston Courier and Mass. Plowman, SI 

Letter Iroiii Mr. Cole, of the Koston Cultivator; an>i from Messrs. Harper of New York, 21 

Concluding Proceedings of the Kjtec. Committee, and Remarks of l>r. Heekman, 23 

Besoliition* of Alex. VValsh, E^q., and a notice from the Hon. John Ureig, 24 

Opinion of Mr. WadsworiU, Ex-President State Agricultural Society, 2* 



ALBANY : 

VBOX THE STEAM PRESS OF C. VAIf BERTHUYBEV & CO. 

1844. 



OFFICERS OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY— 1844, 






JOHN P. BEEKMAN, Columbia, President. 
Vice- Presidents. 

Ist rist.— JAMES LENNOX, New-York. 

2J Di>t.— THOMAS L. DAVIES, Pou;rhkeepsie, Dutches*. 

3(1 Dist.— JOEL B. NOTT, Guilderlaml, Albany. 

4lh Disl.— JOHN SAVAGE, Salem, Uashinsjion. 

6lh Dist.— EDMUND KIRBY, Brownvilie, Jefferson. 

6lh Dist.— GEORGE J. PQMPELLY, Owego, Tiotra. 

7ih Dist.— H. S. RANDALL, CoMliiml Vi!iay:e, Cortland. 

8lh Di.t.— RAWSON HARMON, Jr. Wheatland, Monroe. 

BENJAMIN P. JOHNSON. Rome, Cor. Secretaru^ 
•^ HENRY O'RIELLY, Albany, Pec. Secretary. 

THOMAS HILLHOUSE, Albany, Treasurer. 
.Associate Directors. 

G. WILKINSON, Pou£?hkeepsie. 
J. M'D M'INTYRE, Albany. 
GEORGE VAIL. Troy, 
ALEX. WALSH, Lansingburgh. 
JOEL RATHBONE, Albany. 

The above.named ofTicers constitute the Executive Committee, the sessions of which 
Contimitlee are held regularly on the second Thursday of each month, in the Agricul- 
tural Hall, Old Slate-House, Albany. The regular meetings of the Society are held in Alba- 
ny in January, for the election of officers, and at such other place ag the Cattle-Show may be 
held in September. Special meetings of the Execu'ive Committee are called by the President 
wheneveii occasion requires. The Hall of the Society is open at all times (except the Sab- 
bath,) for receivinif visitors; and the extensive Geological Collection resulting from the State 
Survey, is included in the same edifice — free also for public examination. Officers and mem- 
bers of Agricultural Societies, Superintendents of Schools in the towns and counties, and all 
others who feel interested in promoting Agricultural education and improvement, are invited 
to visit the Hall when sojourning in Albany. 

Meetings of Friends of Agriculture, commenced last winter, will be continued during eachses' 
sion of the Legislature — many members of which body, as well as other persons visiting Albany 
from different parts of the Stale, are usually found attending the Agricultural Meetings. 



COMMITTEES FOR THE ANNUAL FAIR, APPOINTED BY THE JOINT MEETING 
AT POUGHKEEPSIE, JULY 11, 1844. 

On Arrangements generally Joel Rathbone of Albany, Frederick J. Belts of Newburgh, and 

Henry O'Reilly of Albany. 

On Arrangements at the Place of Exhibition — Alexander Walsh of Lansingburgh, E. P. Prentice 
of Albany, Thos. L. Davies of Poughkeepsie, Benj. P. Johnson of Rome, Luther Tucker 
of Albany, George Vail of Troy, and N. Sweet of Poughkeepsie. 

On the Transportation of Stock to the Fair — Messrs. Vassar and Wilkinson of Poughkeepsie, Be- 
ment and Hillhouse of Albany, Vail of Troy, Walsh of Lansingburgh, Beekman of Kinder- 
hook, and O'Reilly of Albany. 



FUR AXD CITTLE-SUOW 



OF THE 



NEW-YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 

AT POUGHKEEPSIE, SEPT. 17, 18, AND 19, 1844 



The Annual Exhibitions of the State Society, 
It is already well iinown to the public, are stea- 
dily increasing in intere>t and importance. The 
Fairs held within the last three years at Alba- 
ny. Syracuse and Rochester, have proved every 
way siUisfactory. The exhibition at Rochester, 
particularly, was attended by immense thrones 
from ilifferent sections, olthis slate, an 1 by large 
representations from several other stales, as 
well as from the neighboring British Provinces. 

The next Fair, to be held at Pougii'.eejjsie, 
will doubtless surpass any o(" its predecessors, 
if we may judge from the interest excited and 
the arrangements in progress. The facilities of 
reaching that place by water communication, 
will greatly promote the convenience of persons 
who have articles to exhibit, as well as of visit- 
ors generally. The numerous excellent steam- 
boats on the Hudson offer ready access and 
egress, which will pi event inconvcfience fronil 
over-crowded hotels — enabling visitors to spend j 
a day at the Fair, and return homeward in the 
evening. Visitors leaving New- York or Albany ' 
in the morning boats, will be able lo take eve- 1 
ning boats homeward, alter spending eight or 
ten hours at the Fair: so that, with the reason-] 
able charges and excellent fare on the steam- 
boats, and the arrangements of the State Society 
in connection with the liberal preparations of the 
citizens of Poughkeepsie, (including the facili- 
ties forvisitins VVestpoint, Nevvburgh. and other 
places where good hotels may also be found.) 
the fullest confidence may be fell that the thou- 
sands who annually visit the Slate Fairs, will| 
be satisfactorily accommodated this year, whe- 
ther they remain during the whole days of the| 
Fair or spend merely a few hours on their route! 
up or down the Hudson. 

The example of former ye.irs enables the offi-' 
cers of the Slate Society to remedy some incon-l 
veniences heretofore experienced; and the elfi- 1 
cient police that will be maintained, wth the 
improved mode of arrangiiig the groun Is ani] 
buildinss for the Fair ami Cattle Show, must 
render the exhibition more than usually satis- 
factory to families visiting the place in car- 
riases and othenvise. 

In a idition to the multitude of premiumsspe- 
cifically otfered, many discretionary premiuim 
will be awarded by the committee on non-enu- 



merated articles, so that persons who have arti= 
Ides of any kind proper for exhibition or com- 
[petition on such an occasion, may feel assured 

that their articles will be properly considered itt 
I the Reports and Premiums. 

1 Premiums are also offered specifically for 
competition among animals of various kinds 
{from other slates; and the premiums for Books 
on Agricultural Improvement, and for improved 
farming implements, are also thrown open for 
competition to the citizens of other States. Va- 
rious membeis of examinins commilfes ares •- 
lected from New-England, New-Jersey, Penn- 
sylvania, iiic ; from which states, it is hoped, 
there will be sent to the State Fair mnny spe- 
icimens of improved breeds and agricultural im- 
plements. 

I It may not be improper to add, in this con- 
nection, that many eminent Agriculturists and 
jPublic Officers from other Stales will be pre- 
jsent, and participate in the proceedings of the 
jFair, as in former years; and that meetings of 
ithe frien Is of agriculture will be held during 
|lhe -venings of the Fair, a? well as on the show 
jground during the last day, for the purpose of 
!inierchanging opinions on subjects connected 
twith the procress of agriculture in thisand other 
states of the Union. 

I It is hoped that friends of Agriculture in all 
sections of this and the neighboring states, (and 
[especially the conductors o( the press, whnse 
presence is invited to the greatest practicable 
extent,.! will exert their influence in arousing 
attention among their neighbors lo the sati>fac. 
lion and advanlase which may be derived from 
attending exhibitions like those at the Annual 
Fairs and Cattle Shows of the New- York State 
Agricultural Society. 

Deputations are respectfully invited from the 
Agricultural Soci^ties in other states, as well as 

ifromthe County Societies in this state. Parti- 

|Cular attention will be paid to the arrangements 
for accommodating the ladies in the exhibition 

.of articles of domestic economy; and such order 
will be preserved as may enable all to examine 

;ihe articles ixhibited, without confusion from 

icrowos. 

I JOHN P. BEEKMAN, Prest. 

[ Henry C'REitLy, Rec. Sec. 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PREMIUM LIST. 



MANAGEMENT OF FARMS. [ 

For skill and improvement in the management 
of a farm, taking into view the land, stock and 
produce, with all the appendages, I 

First premium, a gold medal— Second and 
third, silver medals. I 

No premium will be awarded unless an accu- 
rate description of the farm and statement of 
the crops, &c., with all the expense of the man- 
agement and profit of the farm, is furnished. 
These premiums will be awarded only to those 
whose farms are improved in a manner that 
lenders them examples worthy of imitation. 

JuDGF.s — On Farms — J. P. Beekman, Kinder- 
hook; J. S. Wadsworth, Geneseo; Thomas Hill- 
house, Albany. 

BOOKS AND ESSAYS FOR PUBLICATION. 

For the best series of Essays on the impor- 
tance of scientific knowledge in prose- 
cuting successfully the ordinary pursuits 
of Agriculture, $100 

For the best Text-book on Agriculture, lor | 
the use of schools, • 100 

For the best essay on Farm Management, 
including ail the details connected with ] 
the successful management of a farm,. . 20 

For the best essay on the Rotation of 
Crops adapted to the climate of Ibis | 
state, 20 

For the best essay on Subsoil Plowing, 
with the results of acual experiments in i 
the slate of New- York, 20| 

For the best essay on the Culture and j 
ManuHtciure of Silk, , 20 

For the best essay on the cultivation of the \ 
Apple, for exportation as well as domes- 
tic use, 20j 

EXPERIMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS 
IN AGRICULTURE. 

Turning under Green Crops. 

For the most satisfactory experiment of turn- 
ing under green crops as a manure, on not less 
than one acre of land, with adetailed statement 
of tie whole process in writing, $10 — For the 
second best, 2 vols. Trans. 

Preparation and .Application of Manures. 
Best experiment in the preparation and appli- 
cation of manures, with a detailed statement of 
the expense and all matters connected with it, 
$10. 

Improvement of Agricultural Implements. 
To the person who shall exhibit at the next 
Fair, any new or improved a<ericu!tural imple- 
ment of his own invention, which shall in the 
opinion of the committee merit a premium,' — a 
Silver medal. 



Proof must be given of the work performed 
by the implement previous to its exhibition, an-l 
of its having been used and approved by some 
practical farmer. To be open for competition 
to any citizen of the United States. 
Comparative value of Crops as food for Cattle. 

For the most satisfactory experiment upon a 
stock of cattle not less than four in number, in 
ascertaining tlie relative value of the different 
kinds of food used, as compared with hay, with 
a detailed account of the fodder u*ed, and the 
expense of raisina; and feeding the same. Th-e 
experiments to be made in three winter months, 
or whenever satisfactory experiments can be 
made, $20— Second best, 2 vols. Trans.— Third 
best, Diploma. 

Experiments on Indian Corn. 

A premium of $25 for the best, $15 for the 
second besi, and $10 for the third best conduct^ 
ed series of experiments in the cultivation of 
Indian corn. Not less than one acre of ground 
to be planted. 

The experiments to be made with a view of 
ascertaining what are the peculiar laws relating 
to that ciop — particularly how thick it should 
be planted, how the plants should bedistiibuted 
on the ground — whether in hills, drills or other- 
wise; what kind of manure, and ho^v it should 
be applied; the manner of cultivation, anl the 
kind of corn planted, to be particularly stated. 
The cost of each process, the amount of corn 
raised by each of the diffcent modes of culture, 
and the relative profits, to be accurately and 
minutely stated in the report to the committee. 
Irrigation. 

Best conducted experiment in the flooding and 
irrigation of lands, $10. 

Sheep. 

Bejt managed flock of sheep, including par 
ticular statements of the breed, expense of 
keeping, increase, amount of wool, value, &c. 
$12, or a Gold medal. 

Dairy, 

Best managed dairy, with a detailed state- 
ment of expense, and every thing connected 
with the management as well as profits of the 
same, — $12, or a Gold medal 

For the greatest quantity and best quality of 
butter produced on ^^ny farm, from a given num- 
ber of cows in 30 days the present year, with a 
particular statement of the method of making 
and preserving the same, with a satisfactory 
account of the manner in which the cows have 
been fed, and the general management of the 
milk and butter — a Silver medal. 

[All the foregoing Premiums are to be deter- 
mined at the Winter Meeting of the Society.] 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANNUAL FAIR, fcc. 



CATTLE. 

Class I — Best of any breed. 

BfstBull, 3 years oln, $J0 I Rest cow, 3 years old, $20 
B»*t Hull -i year- o d, 15 | Hest Cow, 2 yi-ars <ild, 16 
Hest y<'ailiiis Bull,--- 10 I Best yeirlme Cow,. •. lo 
BestBul cilf, G I Besi heilVr c:ili, 6 

Judges — On Cattle, Class I. — Alex. Grant, 
Dover; Anthony Van Bergen, Coxsackie; G. V. 
Sacket, Seneca c alls. 

Class II. — Durham Cattle, 
Beat Bull, 3 years old, $15 I Second best, $10 

Third Lest, Dipluma. 
Best Bull, 2 years old, $\') \ Second bsst. $5 

Tliiid best, |ii|)l>.tna 
Best yearling Bull,--- 510 | Si'cond best, $5 

Third best, Hiploiiia. 

Best bull calf, $> | L'esi Cow, 3ye irs old, f 15 

Second Le=t, Diplomi. | Sc-nnd beat, §10 

Third bt'st, Hiploina. 
Best Heifer, 2 y'rs old, $10 j S-cond best, $5 

Third I esl, Diplocm. 

Best yearling Heil'T,- $i0|Secoiid best, ^5 

Third best, Dip'oma. 
Best heifer caK, fd | Second best, Diploma. 

Cl\S3 III. — Herefords' 

Best Bull, 3 years old, $16 | Second best, 2 vols. Trans. 

Third i'e^t, Diploma. 
Best Bull, 2 years old, $10 1 Second best, 2 vols. Trans. 

Third I est, Hipoma 
Best yearling Bull,--- $6 | Seiond best, --vol. Trans. 

Tliiid bnst, Hipl ma 

Fesi hull calf, $5 | Bt.-t Cow, .? years old, ,115 

Sticond best, Diploma. | Second best, i vols. Trims. 

Third be<t llipl.imi 
Best Heifer, -2 y'rs old. $10 | Sec.md iiest, 2 vols. Trans. 

Third be>t, lii|.loma. 
Best yearling Heifer,- ,«6 j Ppcoiid best,-. -vol. Trans. 

Third best, Diploma. 
Best heifer calf, $5 | Second l)est, Diploma. 

JuDGF.s — On Calt'e, Classes IF. and III. — 
Henry Whitney. New Haven, Cl.; Dr. J. A. 
Poole, New Brunswick, N. J.j Thomas Hollis, 
Butternuts. 



Class IV. — Devons, 

Best Bull, 3 years old, $16 | Second best,- 

Third best. Diploma. 
Best Bull, 2 years old, .flu | Second best,. 

Thiid best. Diploma. 
Best yearling Bui:,--- $10 | Second best,- 

Third be,.t, Diploma. 

Be.'t bull calf, $b Secuiiid best,.. 

test Cow, 3 years old, .Slo j Sicond best,. 

Third best, Diploma. 
BestHeiftr, 2 y'rs old, .'JIO | Seiond best,. 

Third best. Diplmna 
Best yearling heifer, -• $10 | Second best,. 

Third besi. Diploma. 
Best heifer calf, $5 | Second best,. 

Class V. — jiyrshires. 

Best B"ll, Syears old, $15 | Bet Cow,.... 
Second best, $10 | Second best, • 



$5 

•Diploma 
. ... $10 



$5 

.Diplotna 



$16 
$10 



Class VI. — Grouses 0/ Native and Improved. 

Best Cow, 3 years old, $12 | Best Heifer, 2 y'rs old, $9 

Seioiid best, 8 1 Second hesl, 6 

Third best, vol. Trans. | Third best, vol. Trans. 

Class Yll.— Native Cattle. 

Best Cow, 3 years old, $li I Best Hei(er, 2 y'rs old, $9 

Second best, 8 1 Second besi, 6 

Third best,--..vol. Trans | Third best, -.-vol Trans 

Class Vfll. — Dairy Cows of any breed. 

For Ihe be-it Diiiy Cow, from wh'ch «h t'.l hive been 
produced in thirty successive days. lh>- prf-Hiest qu m- 
tiiy of butler— quality as well as quantity considered 
— which shall be exhibited at the time, $16 

For the second best,.- $10 | For the third bect,--Diplo. 



The manner of feedin? the cow, the manage- 
ment of the milk, and the meihod of makinaj 
the butler, with the time it vvasmu.le, the breed 
of the cow, if known, an I the time alter calv. 
ina:, must all be accurately slate I in writing. 
The cow and the butter to be exhibited at the 
time, with certificates from the person or per- 
sons who milked, managed the cream, and pre- 
pared the butter. 

JcjDOES— On Cattle, Classes IV., V., VI., 
VII., VIII. — Adnm Fereusson, Watertown, Ca- 
nnJa West; George Ramlall, New BeJlord, 
Mass.; Elnathan Haxtun, Beekman. 

Working Oxe'i and Steers. 

Rest, over 4 years old, $15 | Third best, vol. Trans. 

Seroud bCst, «10 j t-'ourlh be>t, Di ilo 1 a. 

Best i yoKe of o.xen or steers -2 years old, belonging 10 

I person $IS 

Second best, $10 | Third best, Diploma. 

l;est ti n yoke of oxen from any one town, $'J0 

Iiest ycjke steers, 3 v'rs. $15 I Second be»t, $10 

Third best, Diploma. 

[In awarding these premiums, particular re- 
ference will he hfid to the malchiiis, training 
an 1 iloci'ily of the animals, as well as their ge- 
neral appearance ] 

Best yoke steers, -i y'rs, $S | Second best, -.vol. Tram. 

Tliir I best, Diploma. 
Best yoke steers, l yr. $10 | Second best, Diploma. 



919 
$10 
$10 



Fat Cattle. 

Best yoke, $i0 | Second best,..- 

Third iiest, $10 
Bestfiitox, $15 I Second best,-.. 

Third best, vol Tnns, 
Best fat cow or heifer, $15 | >econd best,..- 

Thiid best, vol Trans. 

A fat ox taUins a premium as one of a pair, 
cannot compete singly for another premium. 

Judges — On Oxen and Fat Cattle — L. C. 
Ball, Hoosick; Jolin T. Norton. Farmington, 
Conn.; Henry A. Metier, Fishkill. 

HORSES. 



Best Stallion, 4 yrs. old $20 

Second best 10 

Third best, ....vol. Trans. 
Fourth best,... • Di| loiiia 
He-.t."<tailion,3yrs. old, $15 

Second best, 10 

Thiid best, Diploma 

Hesl pail matched, $i0 

S»c()nd best, . 2 vols. Trans. 
Third besi, Diploma. 



Best breeding Mare,.. $3o 

>econd be-t, 10 

Third bcsl, Diploma. 

Best Mare. 3 years old, -SIO 
"'i-< ond best,.- -vol Tr-ms. 

Third besi, Diploma. 

Be>t pairmatch'il larm,$IO 
Second oest, -• vol. Trans. 
Bi'st pr. markei horse»,$io 
Second besi, •• vol Trans. 



Best geldini; horse,.... $10 | Second best, .. vol. Trans. 

The variety of horses which possesses size, 
strenath nnl endurance for field labor, combined 
with that action which qualifies for the carriage 
or saddle — in 8 tort, the •' horse of all work"— 
is probably the most profitable class which our 
farmers can now engage in rearin?; and to s leh, 
therefore, will the preference of the Socieiy be 
given. Horses taking premiums in pairs, can- 
not compete singly for the premium for geld- 
ings. Sundry discretionary premiums are au- 
thorized. 

Judges— '^n Stallions— Lewis F. Allen. Buf. 
falo; Theodore S. Faxon, Utica; John A. King, 
Jamaica. 

Judges— On Bi*eding Mares — John C. Ste- 
ven<. New- York; George Fordon, Geneva; Gen. 
A T Dunham, Watervliet. 

Judges— On Matched Horses — John M. Sher- 
wood, Auburn; Wm. T. Porter, New-York; 
Duncan Robinson, Fishkill. 



6 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



JACKS AND MULES. 

For the best Jack, •••• $'5 I For best pair Mules, 

10 i Second best, 

-Jeremiah 



$15 
10 



Best,- 



Second best,---- 10 ! Second best. 

Judges— On Jacks and Mules- 
Johnson, Brooklyn; Noah Gridley, Araenia; Dr. 
Samuel McClellan, Nassau. 

SHEEP. 
Class I. — Long Woohd. 

Best buck, $io | Rest pen ol 3 ewes,.--- «10 

«;p,.,,n(l hesl, 6 SeCDUUbesl, o 

Thirdbesi,.---- Diploma iThird bes<, Diploma. 

Be:^l pun of five lambs, $5. 
Judges— On Sheep, Claf^s I— Henry Rhodes, 
Trenton; Wm. A. McCulloch, Greenbu^h; Ell- 
as L. Barton, La Grange. 

Class U.— Middle Woolcd. 

Best buck, §10 I Best pen ol 3 ewes, •• flO 

opp, .nil best, 5 Se oiul l)est, o 

Third best • Diploma. I llnrd besi. Diploma. 

Best pen of five U.mh>, $5. 
Judges— On Sheep, Class II— Santord How- 
ard, Albany; Edward T. Hallock, Milton; Wil- 
liaru Fuller, Skaneateles. 

Class III —i^ine Wooled. 

Bcstb.irk, $10 1 Best i.f., of 3 ewes, ■■ $\0 

S-conil best, 5 SL-cond be>t, o 

Third best, Dii>lom;i. | Th rd b.-si, Diploma. 

Best pen of tiv« lambs, $p 

Class lY.—Fai Sheep. 

$10 1 Second best, $5 

Third lesi, vol. Tr ms. 

Judge?— On Sheep, Class III— Edmund Kir- 
by BrowBville; Henry K. Morrell, Caroline 
Centre; Hu^li 1". Brooks, Wyoming. 

Applicants for the premiums on fat cattle and 
sheep, must furnish statements of the manner 
of feedins the animals, and the kind, quantity 
and cost of the food. ,,„.,. , ^ . 

The ter'm " long wooled" is designed to in- 
clude the Leicesiers, Lincoln?, Cotswolds, and 
a'l the Enslish varieties of sheep which furnish 
tie quality of wool suitable for combing — the 
" mi. idle woole I" include.^ the South Down, the 
Norfolk, Dorset, Cheviot, Native, &c.— the 
"fine wooled" includes the Spanish and Saxon 
varieties of the Merino and some of their 
crosses. 

SWINE. 
Best Boar, over 10 mo. flO I Rcstsow, $10 

Third he-l, Oiplom.i | llnnl best, Diploma. 

iesi lot oC piss uii(lt;r 10 monl'is, not I'-ss tlian 4 in 
unmber, $5. Second be>l, Dliilomii. 

In awarding premiums on hogs, reference will 
be had not merely to size or present conditio^!, 
but to that proportion between bone and meat 
which promises the greatest value from the least 
amount ol feed. 

Judges— On Swine— H. S. Randall, Cortland- 
ville; Samuel Youngs, Oyster Bay; Samuel 
Wait, Montgomery. 

FARM IMPLEMENTS. 

Best cultivator, $5 

Src'iiil hi'j-t, •••• Di|iloma. 
He>l ilrill b trrow, ••• ■ 5 
Scconil iiesl,-- vol. Trans. 
Hes-l i'-irni liorse c:irt,* 5 

BesmxcHrt, 6 

Best horse rake, 6 

Second best, •• vol. Trans. 



Best grain cradle, — 3 
Second best, •••• Diploma. 
Best i doz. hay fork^. Dip. 

Bi'st harrow, 6 

Second licsi, •• vol. Trans. 
Third l)est, Diploma 



Best |doz. gr scythes, Dip. 
Bes^i '' cradle, •' Dip« 
Best " dung forks, Di|K 
Best tlireshg. machine, IS 
Second be^t, •• vol. Trans. 
Thiid best, Di-.h.mii. 



Best plow, $15 

Second best, -Silver medal. 

Third best, Dipbnna. 

Best >iib3oil plow, $10 

Besi Dyn iMioiiicti'i,- •• 2'> 

Bt St Farm \vii{>(m, 10 

Second best,-- vol. Trans 
Best i dz. hand rakes, Dip. 



Best fanning mill, Silv. ml. i:est str. cut. Silver med'l 
Second be^t, •• Vol. Trans. | Second best, .. vol. Trans. 

Third best, Diploma. I Third best, Diploma. 

Best improved ox-yoke, 5 Best clover machine, • 10 

Second best, Diploma. | Second liest Hiploma. 

Best flax and lienip dressing machine, $10. 

Articles not presenting any new and valuable 
improvements, will not be entitled to premiums. 
Implements and machines must be tested as far 
as possible, in the pi-esence of the committee, 
on the l7th September — the day before the pub- 
lic Exhibition. 

Judges — On Farm Implements — T. V. W. 
Anthony, Fishkill; Geo W. Patterson, West- 
field; Alvan Bradley, Whilesboro. 



DAIRY. 

BUTTER. — Not less than 50 pounds. 

Best sample, $15 I Konrtli best. Silver medal. 

Second best, Sliver medal. Filtli best, •• " " 

Third best, " " j Sixth best, •• " " 

Judges — On Butter — Alexander Walsh, Lan- 
singbursh; Z. Barton Stout, Richmond; R. L. 
Pell, Pelham. 

CHE^;;SE. — Not less than 100 pounds. 

Bes SH III pie, $lo | Foiinh best, Silver medal. 

Second best. Silver nicdul. Kilh e>t, " " 

Third beat, " " | Sixth best, " " 

Judges — On Cheese — Elijah Rhoades. Syra- 
cuse; W. A. S, North, Duanesburgh; Tobias 
L. Hogeboom, Ghent. 

The butter ollVred for premiums must be pre- 
sented in butter tubs, jars or firkins. 

The claimanls for premiums must state in 
writing the time when it was made ; the number 
of cows kept on the larm ; the mode of keep- 
ing ; the treatment of the cream and milk be- 
fore churning; the mole of churnins, winter 
and summer ; the metho.l of freeing the butter 
from the milk ; the quantity and kind of salt 
used ; whether saltpetre or any other substances 
have been employed. 

Those who present cheese for the premiums 
offered, must stale in writing the time when it 
was made; the number of cows kept; whether 
the cheese is made from one. two or more milk- 
ings; whether any addition is made of cream; 
the qnaniity and kind of salt used; the quantity 
of rennet used, and the mode of preparing it; 
the mo le of pressure, and the treatment of 
cheese afterwards. 



MAPLE SUGAR. 
Best sample, 15 lbs.-- $15 | Second best,- 



-Diploma. 



CORNSTALK SUGAR. 

For the best experiment in the manufacture 
of sugar from cornstalks, fiom one acre of 
northern corn cultivated for the purpose, so as 
to obtain the greatest quantity of sugar, $25. 

The process of manufacture and ciaiifying 
must be particularly slated in reference to the 
maple an4 cornstalk sugar 

Judges — On Maple and Com-Stalk Sugar — 
F. J. Belts, Newburgh; Myron Adams, East 
Bloomfield; Morgan Carpenter, Slamford. 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANNUAL FAIR, &c. 



SILK. 

Best specimen manu. ,'^15 j Srrond best, $ 

Spend best, lo|l'hiiil b>'st, Diplom.. 

Third best, 6 I Best }bii. cocoonx 1844, $11 

Fourth best," -vol. Trans I Seci'nil best, (. 

Best pound reeled >ilk, 10 | Third best, Diplomii 

Judges — On Silk — 0. Hungerford, Water- 
town; J. R. Barbour, Oxlord, Mass.; Daniel 
Stebbins, Northampton, Mass. 

DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. 



Best woollen bUnkets, $5 
— Seoi.nd, 4— Third, 3 

Best ti.Mi yards flnnuel, $5 
— .'eciiiid, ■! — Third, 3. 

Best lOyards woolen cl'i:h, 
$5— Second. 4— Third, 3 

Best wooli-u carpet, $5— 
Second, 4— Third, 3. 

Best tow cloih, 15 yards, 
81 — Sfcouil, Diploma 

Best 10 yard* linen, $5— 
Second, 4— Third, 3. 

Best 10 yards linen diaper, 
$5— Si-cond, 4— Third, 3 

Best hearth rue, $5— Sec- 
ond, 4—1 bird, 3— Fourth 
2— Fifth, 1— Sixth, Dip. 

Best ten yards kersey, $3 
—Second, 2— Third 1 

Best rag carpel, 15 yards, 
$3— Second, 2— Third. I. 

Best double carpel cover- 



let, 4— Second, 3— Third. 

2— Fourth, !. 
Best pvir woollen knit 

stockings, $-2— Sec'd, I— 

Third, Diploma. 
Best wuve woollen stork- 

ii gs, !?■.> — Si-cond, I — 

Third, Diploma. 
Bi'st cotton wove stock- 
ings, $-2 — Second, 1 — 

Third, Diidoma. 
Ktst lb. of linen sewinp 

thread, .'$•2— St cond, 1— 

Third, Diploma. 
Best linen woven stock- 
ings, §-2 — Second, 1 — 

Third, Diploma. 
Best linen knit stockings, 

$.'— Second, 1 — Tnird, 

Diploma 
Best knii cottonslocking 



S2 — Second, 1 — Ihird, 

Diploma. 

JtJDGES — On Domestic Manufactures — Sam- 
uel Works, Lockport; Rarisom Cook, Sara- 
toga Springs; Joseph Arnold, Kingston. 

VEGETABLES. 



For 6.best'stalks Celery, $2 

3 best heads Cauliflo'r, 2 

8 besi heads Broccoli,- 2 
12 best while table tiir- 

neps 1 

12 best Carrots, 1 

12 best table Beets, 1 

12 best Pirsneps, 1 

12 best Onions, 1 

3 best heads Cabbage,- 1 

12 best Tomatoes, 1 

2 best purple egg plants, 1 



Best half peck Lima 
be.ins. i 

Bi-st h'l p'U Windsor do 

Best bunch double pars- 
ley, 

3 liesi Squashes, 

Larg -St Pnmpuin, 

12 l)e>l e irs seed corn,- 

Best half peck table po- 
I aloes, 

Second best, 

Bist variety seeilling 
potatoes, 



Discretionary premiums will be awarded on 
choice garden products not enumerated above 

Judges — On Vegitables — Wm. Wilson, Alba- 
ny; T. Bridgman, New-York; D. B. Fuller, 
Hyde Park. 

FRUITS. 

For the greatest variety of table Apples, $8. 

For secoml greatest, •• $.i | Third treatest, vol Trans. 

For Ihe best I2 sorts, not less ihan three of each, $3. 

Ke>t nei'- seedling Apple, $5. 

For the preaiest vari- ty of table Pears, $3. 

For the second greatest, Vol. Trans. 

For theireattst variety of winter Pears, ••- " 

For the best twelve Quinces, " 

For the best I welve Pea'hes, '' 

For the best twenty four Plums, " 

Forihebesi si.x bunches of native nrapps, •• " 

For the best six bunches of foreign Grapes,-- " 

Judges — On Fruits — J. J. Thomas, Macedon; 
J. F. Sheaf, Poughkeepsie; Albert Hearlt, 
Troy. 

FLOWERS. 

For the greatest variety and quantity, §5. 

Second greatest, $a | Third greatest, vol. Trans. 

For the best Floral Ornament, S5. 

Second best, S3 | For best s'dling Dahlia, $3 

Third best, — vol. Trans. | Second best, $2 

For the be»t tweuty-five varieties of Dahlias, S6 
Second best, ^3 | Third best, — vol. Trans. 



Judges — On Flowers — James Lennox, New- 
York; A. J. Downing, Newburgh; M. B. BatC' 
nam, Rochester. 

PLOWING MATCH. 

First Preminm; $16 | Third Premium, $10 

oecoud premium, 12 | Fonnh premium, 6 

Fifth preniium, Diploma 

Each competitor will be required to plow one. 
fourth of an acre of sward land in 75 minutes; 
the furrows not to be less than 12 inches wide 
and 6 d'ep — plowman to drive his team. 

Judges — On Plowing — Joel B. Nott, Guilder- 
'anl; Elon Comstock, Rome; Martin Springer, 
Brunswick; Henry Staals, lied Hook; Warner 
Abbot, Olisco. 

FIELD CROPS: 

Fremivms to he awarded at Winter Meeting. 
Rest crop of wheat, not less than two acies, $ls. 

Second best, $10 | Third be>t,--2 vols. Trans. 

Ke-jl two acres of spring wheat, $15. 

Second best, .flO | I'hird best, --2 vols. Trans. 

He^t crop of Indian corn, 1 ot less than two acres, $15. 

Second best, • $10 ] Third best,- -2 vols. Trans. 

Best crop of Barley, noi le^s than l» o acres, $10. 

Second best, $5 | Third best, • --Vol. Trans. 

Best crop of Rye, noi les< than two acies, $10. 

Second be-i, $5 | Thml besl, vol Ttans. 

Best crop of Oats, not le-s than I w«i acres, $10 

Second best. $-5 | Third best, vol. Trans. 

Best crop of Potaloe'' lor table, not .ess than 1 acre. $10 

Second best, $5 | ihiriihesi, vol. Trans. 

Best cropol Poiaioiis, qii.iiit'y considered, not less than 

1 acie, $10. 

Second best, •••' $5 | I bird best, -•-• vol. Trans. 

Hest crop Sugar Beet«, n^l le-.s than hull an ai re, $10. 

Second best,-' $5 | Thinl best, vol. Trans. 

Best crop of Mangel Wurzel, not less than half aa 
acre, $10 

Secon 1 hest, $5 | 1 bird best, vol Trans. 

Best crop of Rota Bag 1, not le>s than one acre $10. 

Second best, $6 1 Th'rd best, vol Trans. 

Best crop of Carrots, noi le-^s ih in one acri', $10. 

Second best, $v^ I Third best, vol. Trans. 

Best crop oi Peas, noi less than one .icre, $10. 

Serond b">l, $0 I Hest * acre ol tob icro, • $5 

Fet acre of corn for lod ter, sown iiroaucasi, $6. 

Rest half acie of h'ips, $5 I Tiiird best, -- vol. Trans. 

Best " " Hix, 5 I Hest acre of cabb.igei" 6 

Best acre of broom corn, $5. 

Those who present claims to premiums for 
farm crops, must state in writing the lollowing 
particulars: — The condition of the soil at the 
commencement of cultivation for the crop ; the 
previous crop and cultivation, and quantity of 
manure used upon it; the quantity and Kind of 
manure the present season ; the quantity and 
sort of seed used ; the time and manner of sow- 
in?, cleaning and harvesting the crop ; the 
am'ount ol the crop determined by actual weight 
or measurement ; and the expense of cultiva- 
Don. The land shall be measured by some 
sworn surveyor, and the claimant of the premi- 
um, with two other persons who assisted in 
measuring, shall certify under oath as to the 
quantity produced from the piece of land men- 
tioned in the certificate of the surveyor. 

DISCRETIONARY PREMIUMS 
Will be awarded for such implements, pro- 
ducts, &c. not enumerated, as shall be deemed 
worthy of notice or encouragement. 

Judges — On Discretionary Premiums — Ro« 
bert Denniston, Salisbury Mills; Abram Bockee, 
Federal Store; Samuel Ackerly, M. D., Rich- 
mond, S. I.; J. J. Viele, Lansingburgh; J. B. 
Duane, Duanesburgh. 



8 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



COMPETITION FROM OTHER STATES 

Premiums in form of Silver Medals, open to 
competition from other States, will be given 

For the best bull and cow of any breed — Se- 
cond best, 2 vols. Transactions. 

For the best yoke of working oxen — Second 
best, 2 vols. Trans. 

For the best pair of fat cattle— Second best, 2 
vols. Trans. 

For the best pair of matched horses — Second 
best, 2 vols. Trans. 

For the best pen of 3 line wooled ewes — Se- 
cond best, 2 vol:!. Tr. 

For the best fine wooled buck — Second best. 2 
vols. Trans. 

The medals will be of equal value with those 
awarJed on animals confined to the state. 

Judges — On Cattle, &c. from other States — 
Hon. Levi Lincoln, Worcester; James Tall- 
madge, New-York; James Gowan, PhiladeU 
phia^; H. L. Ellsworth, Washinglonj J. VV. 
Thompson, Wilmington. 

TRIAL OF PLOWS, &c. 
On the 17th of September, the day before the 
Gener'tl Exhibition opens. 

Judges— On Trial of Plows — Caleb N. Be- 
menf, Albany; John Wilkinson, Union Vale; 
L. B. Langworthy, Rochester. 

REGULATIONS. I 



Horses, Sheep or Swine, should sive notice to 
Thomas L. Davies, Poughkeepsie, or Henrv 
O'Reilly, Recording Secretary, Albany, pre- 
vious to the 10th of Sei tember, that the neces- 
sary arrangements may be made for their ac- 
commodation — and all animals must be on the 
ground by 9 o'clock, A. M. of the 18th Septem- 
ber. 

All those who intend to compete for the pre- 
miums on agricultural implements, butter aiid 
cheese, sugar, cocoons, silk, &c., should tiave 
their specimens on the ground on the I7th, that 
they may be deposited in their appropriate 
places, and the rooms suitably arranged on the 
day previous to the Fair. 

Applicantsfor premiums are requested to pay 
paiticular attt'ntion to the notes attached to the 
premiums on Diiiry Cows, Fat Cattle and Fat 
Sheep, Butter and Cheese, Field Crops, Maple 
Sugai , &c. 

No premium will be awarded, unless, in the 
opinion of the Judges of the Class in which it 
is offered, the animal or article is worthy of 
Such premium. 

Competitors for the premiums on Essays, 
must forward their manuscripts to the Record- 
ing Secretary, Albany, previous to the Isl of 
'January, 18-15, free of postage. 

The statements required from those who com- 
pete for field crops, must be sent to Hen'ry 
O'Reillv, Rec. Secretary, Albany, previous to 
the 1st of January, 1845, anJ the premiums will 



The premiums for Essays and Agricultural be awarded at the annual meeting of the Socie- 
Implements, and others specifically enumerated, I ty, on the thini Wednesday of January, 
will be open to citizens of other stales; all | Prize animals anJ implements at the prevj- 
others will be confined to residents of thi> state, ' ous exhibitions, will be allowed to comptte for 
who are members of this Society, or who m.iy the prizes: but they n ust receive a higher 



become so by the payment of one dollar on en- 
tering their articles. 

No premiums will be paid on any animals or 
articles taken away before the close of the 
Fair. 

Premiums not claimed within four months af- 
ter they are awarded, will be considered as do- 
nations to the Society. 

All persons who intend to exhibit Cattle, | 



prize, or in a difffrent class, to cntille them to a 
premium. Should the same premium heretofore 
given them be av\arled, they will receive a cer- 
tificate to that effect, instea i of the prize. 

Aiiimals an I othe-r articles offered lor compe- 
tition, must be labelled with the mines aaJ re- 
sidence of the owners at full length. 



SOCIETIES, EDITORS, and other Friends of Agriculture, to whom copies of this publication are 
seat, are requested to express their views on the subject of Agricultural Education. 



AGEICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE 

IN CONNEXION WITH 

COMMOI SCHOOLS & DISTRICT LIBRARIES. 



2feo3-^ovk State Agricultural ©onctn 

(in the executive committee — JULT MEETINt3 — JOHN P, BEEKMAN PRESIDING) 

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE (HON. JOHN GREIG CHAIRMAN) FOR PROMOTING THE IN- 
TRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL BOOKS IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES. 

(Members of the Special Committeo— Hon. John Greig, Governor Seward, Lieut. Gov. Dickinson, James Lennox, 
John A. King, James S. Wadsworth, and Henry O'Rielly.) 



At the annual meeting of the New-York 
State Agricultural Society in Albany, in Ja- 
nuary of 1844 James S. Wadsworth, 

then President of the institution, in the chair : 
a movement was commenced for promoting- 
attention to Agricultural and Horticultural 
Improvement through the instrumentality of 
suitable books in the Common Schools and 
School-District Libraries. 

The importance of the movement may be 
measurably estimated from the consideration 
that there are between eleven and twelve thou- 
sand School Districts, and an average exceed- 
ing five hundred thousand students annually in 
the schools, while the Libraries are accessible 
to every inhabitant, as well as to the scholars, 
among an aggregate population of nearly 
three millions in this State alone. 

The feelings which influenced the Society 
in reference to this important subject, may be 
inferred from the language of the resolutions 
published among the proceedings of the An- 
nual Meeting, included in the third volume of 
the Transactions — as follows: 

" The following proposition! were presented by Hen- 
ry O'Reilly, accompanied by some remarks : 

" Whereas, It is important lo the interestsof Apricul- 
ture that public attention should be turned, more ef- 
fectually than it is now turned, towards the ronnexion 
between Scientific Knowledge and Agricultural Iin- 
provemeui : 

"And whereas, In the opinion of this meeting, the 
State Agricultural Society cannot render a greater ser- 
vice to the cause for which it is established, than by 
promoting the dissemination of Knowledge respecting 
the Sciences, particularly the Natural Sciences, m their 
connexion with ordinary agricultural industry ; 

" Be it therefore Resolved, That with the purpose of 
eliciting discussion on this important subject, and 
placing the means of mformation witnin reach of every 
inhabitant of this Stale, a Premium of One Hundred 



Dollars be and it is hereby ofTered, for the best series 
of Essays ' On the importance of Scientific Knowledge 
in prosecuting successfully the ordinary pursuits of 
Agriculture.' 

" Be it also Resolved, That the Premium aforesaid 
should be left open for competition until the first day 
of January next, or some other suitable day which will 
leave sufficient time for judgment on the merits of the 
Essays offered under these resolutions— the said Essays 
to be of a popular character, presenting scientific 
truths divested as far as practicable of technicalitiee; 
not to exceed in size two volumes of the 'School Dis- 
trict Library,— and the copy-right to remain with the 
author, under a recommendation from this Society that 
the publishers of books for the said Scliool District Li- 
braries should incorporate the said Essays among their 
series of works for general circulation. 

" Resolved also, That a committee of seven members 
of this Society be appointed to examine the Essays 
offered in competition ; to award the Premium under 
these resolutions; and to lend all practicable aid to the 
author in causing the publication of the work in a man- 
ner best calculated to promote the great purposes of 
tins Society in disseminating useful knowledge among 
the Farmers of the Empire State. 

" These resolutions elicited sundry remarks from the 
President, from Mr. Nott of Albany county, Mr. B. P. 
Johnson of Oneida, and other gentlemen ; and were 
finally unanimously approved. 

" In accordance with the views expressed in the fore- 
going preamble and resolutions, Mr. O'Keilly offered 
another proposition, which, after remarks (romseve.al 
members, was unanimously adopted, in the following 
form : 

"Resolved, That the committee of seven to be ap- 
pointed under the foregoing resolutions, be also direct- 
ed to select from the Prize Essays among the pub- 
lished Transactions of the Stale Agricultural Society, 
such Essays as may be most appropriately published in 
volurnes of suitable size for the Family and School 
District Libraries ; and that the said committee be au- 
thorized to make arrangements with some of the book 
publishers for issuing such volumes of Prize Essays, 
at reasonable prices, for general circulation among the 
farmers of this and other States ; having due leference 
in such arrangements, to the pecuniary interests of 
this Soeictyii connexion with the said publication- 



JO 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



^Pd seeing, at least, that no expense shall be incurred 
no compensation can be had for the f opy-rigbt. 
" The committee of seven contemplated for carrying 
into effect the foregoing resolutions, was subsequently 
appointed by the newly elected President ^Dr. Beek- 
man), as follows : the Hon. John Greig of Ontario, 
Gov. Seward of Cayuga, Lieutenant-Governor Dickino 
son of Broome, Col. John A. King of Queens, James 
S. Wadsworth of Livingston, Judge Savage of Washing- 
ton, and Henry O'Reilly of Albany." (Judge S. having 
declined, the Committee elected James Lennox of N.Y. 
Jn his stead.) 

The sentiments expressed in these tesohi- 
tions were further indicated by the offer of ad- 
ditional Premiureis for Prize Essays on Agri- 
cultural sTibjects, through the mode specified 
in connexion with the Premium List for the 
Annual Fair and Cattle Show of 1844. 

The project was also distinctly and warmly 
recommended by Mr. Wadsworth, Ex-Presi- 
dent of the State Society, in his valedictory 
communication published in the third volume 
of "Transactions," from which an extract is 
quoted on the last page (24) of this pamphlet. 
The State Convention of Common School 
Superintendents, (which met in Rochester in 
June, and of which Henry E. Rochester was 
President,) publicly testified, what is abun- 
dantly manifested in the individual expressions 
of many of these officers — a lively interest in 
the propo.sed connexion of Agriculture and 
Horticulture Avith the educational interests of 
the State — in illustration of which, the follow- 
ing resolutions are quoted from the conclusion 
of the Report made to that Convention by a 
committee consisting of Messrs. Potter, Pat- 
chin and Bateham : 

" As As,ricnlture is the art on which all other arts 
depend, and the profession in which the greater part 
of our populpition are easaged, its improvement and 
prosperity is a subject of the highest importance; and 
the committee are of opinion that the time has ar- 
rived when the elements and scientific principles of 
Agriculture should be taught in all our schools, espe- 
cially to the older class of pupils. 

"The rapid progress which has of late years been 
made in those parts where the discoveries of science 
have been brought to bear on the improvemeal of Agri- 
culture, affords the strongest evidence of the impor- 
tance of diffusing a knowledge of the principles upon 
which these improvemenis are based, among those who 
are soon to become the owners and eullivators of our 
naturally fertile, though much-abused soil. There can 
he no doubt but that such knowledge, if properly im- 
parted, would have a direct tendency to improve the 
practice of Agriculture, and elevate the profession to 
that high rank in public estimation which it so justly 
dBscrvGS. 

"Your committee have perceived, however, that 
there are numerous dirhcultics connected with the sub- 
ject, and that it requires more deliberate consideration 
than they have bestowed upon it, to devise the best 
means for accomplishing the object. Much can be done 
by the introduction of books on Agricultnre into the 
District School Libraries. This object has received 
considerable attention from the New-York State Agri- 
cultural Society, and premiums are now offered for ttie 
best essays for the purpose. There is still wanting a 
suitable Text Book on Agriculture, for the use of schools. 
"In view of the whole sulijecl therefore, the commit- 
tee bes leave to recommend this subject to the earnest 
consideration of this Convention, and to snbmit the 
following resoluticms : 

^'Resolve'!, That this Convention recommend to teach- 
ers, as far as is in their power, to impart instruction 
on Agriculture by occasional dialogues or convf-rsa- 
tions among the scholars, and by the reading of Agri- 
cultural books and periodicals, so as to explain the 
principles of this art, and show its respectability and 
importance to themselves and society. 

"Resolved, That the Convention deem it of the high- 
est imporiance that our School Libraries contain more 
works on the principles and practice of Agriculture 



suitable for the perusal of the young; and therefore we 
take pleasure in recommending to the trustees oi school 
districts under our charge to purchase works of thai 
character. 

" Resolved, That we will, as county superintendents, 
take the subject into consideration, and be prepared at 
our next annual convention, to express our opinions 
respecting it, and to act decisively upon it, if deemed 
advisable. 

" Resolved, That a committee of three be now ap- 
pointed to take this matter under their especial consi- 
deration, and report thereon at our next annual con- 
vention; and that the State Agricultural Society be re- 
quested also to appoint a committee to confer with 
them." 

[The committee of three on the part of the 
convention of school superintendents, consists 
of Professor Potter of Union College, Mr. 
Patchin, superintendent of Livingston county, 
and Mr. Bateham, editor of the New Gene- 
see Faimer. 

With this brief recapitulation, explanatory 
of the origin and progress of the movement, 
the results of that movement are now given in 
the annexed outline of proceedings on the part 
of the Slate Agricultural Society: And it is 
satisfactory to know that those results, even 
within the few months since the project was 
started, are amply realizing all reasonable ex- 
pectations in arousing public attention to the 
interesting subject. 



j^gricultural and Horticultural Studies in 
the Schools and Libraries. 

At a meeting of the Executive Committee 
of the New-York State Agricultural Society, 
held in Poughkeepsie on the 11th of July, 
while arranging for the Annual Fair — John 
P. Beekmajv, President of the Society, in 
the chair: 

The subject of introducing agricultural 
books into 'he schools and libraries throughout 
the state, having been called up, the President 
read the resv)lutions of the annual meeting, 
and briefly remarked on the importance of the 
matter in connexion with the public interest 
as well as with the operations of the stale so- 
ciety. He then called upon the committee 
which had the subject specially in charge, to 
report their proceedings for the information of 
the society and the public. 

MR. GREIG'S REPORT. 

The Hon. John Greig of Ontario, chair- 
man of the committee, then slated that the 
committee had maintained considerable cor- 
respondence with sundry public functionaries, 
anti with various devoted friends of agricul- 
ture and education, in furtherance of the ob- 
jects committed to their charge. A portion 
of that correspondence, now submitted for 
consideration, sufficiently exemplifies the in- 
terest awakened in this and other slates, by 
the efforts of' our society in blending the inte- 
esls of agriculture and education. These let- 
ters speak plainly for themselves — emphati- 
cally evincing the sentiments with which the 
subject is viewed by the respective writers; 
and showing that the movement is warmly 
sustained in other states, as well as by many 
well-known writers in this state — several of 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



11 



which writers are now preparing agricultural 
works for text-books in the schools, and for 
circulation among; the community, through 
the agency of the school district libraries. 
Superadded to this, is the readiness which well 
known publishers (as shown in the letter from 
the Harpers) evince towards the publication 
of the proposed volumes as parts of their 
School District and Family Libraries. Mr. 
Greig deemed it needless to occupy much 
time in stating facts which would be sutficient- 
ly evidenced by the letters that he now call- 
ed upon the secretary to submit for the exa- 
mination of the Executive Committee. Those 
letters would show that the whole business was 
now " in the full tide of successful experi- 
ment" — so far as success could be promoted 
by the approbation of the State Convention of 
School Superintendents and of the State Agri- 
cultural society, by the labors of several com- 
petent authors in preparing the required books, 
and by the readiness with which enterprising 
publishers avow a willingness to incorporate 
s>ich books with their standard publications 
for the use of schools and families — for the be- 
nefit of age as well as youth — and there are few 
scold or so wise as to be beyond the reach of 
benefit from the development of those scientific 
truths and practical results which are distin- 
guishing the progress of modern agriculture. 
Some of the corres[)ondence was then sub- 
mitted by the secretary; and a few of the let- 
ters are annexed as specimens of the senti- 
ments manifested generally by those gentle- 
men with whom intercourse has occurred in 
reference to these topics. 

Secrbtart's Office, I>ei-t. op Com. Schools, f 
Albany, July 1, 1844. $ 

Hon. John Greig, 
Chairman Com. of State Agricultural Society, &c. 

Dear Sir — In compliance with the request 
contained in a Circular forwarded to me on the 
26th ult.,by the Recording Secretary of the 
New-York State Agricultural Society, I have 
(he honor to submit briefly my views respect- 
ing the introduction of agricultural studies into 
the several district schools, and of agricultu- 
ral books into the several district libraries of 
our state. 

It is a source of the highest gratification to 
every enlightened mind, thrit a very large and 
rapidly increasing portion of the moral and in- 
tellectual energy of tiie age is resuming ti)e 
direction of agrirullural anil horticultural en 
terprise and knowledge. The numerous! vicis- 
situdes and disastrous results whicii have en- 
sued from a too general diversion of men's 
faculties and powers into (he various channels 
of personal and political ambition, of unhal- 
lowed speculation and overcrowded profes- 
sions, have produced a decided revulsion in 
public sentiment in this respect; andthe ranks 
of the "ancient and honorable " fraternity of 
agriculturists are beginning to be replenished 
from all the other departments of tlie social 
organism. This infusion of new material, 
although, perhaps, not immediately produclive 



in all cases of practical benefit, arising from 
a want of experience and from a prevailing ten • 
dency to substitute plausible theories for the 
slow results of cautious labor, must neverthe- 
less be regarded as a valuable accession in 
many points of view. It brings to bear upon 
the interests of agriculture that invincible spirit 
of enterprise which, in whatever field its ener- 
gies are unfolded, is eminently characteristic 
of the age, and adequate to the accomplish- 
ment of its highest behests. It gives new life 
and vigor to agricultuial labor, by raising il 
to the dignity of a science, by applying to all 
its departments the principles oi advancing 
knowledge, and the discoveries and inventions 
of a progressive civilization, and by dissem- 
inating a practical acquaintance of its details 
among all classes and conditions of commu- 
nity. Il reconciles and harmonizes those 
clashing interests which, from mutual ignor- 
ance of the value and relation of each to the 
others, have heretofore often been found at 
variance, to the serious detriment of the com- 
monwealth, as well as to the manifest injury 
of the rival aspirants to precedence and profit. 
And it restores the cultivators of the soil to 
their just predominance in the social and poli- 
tical system — assigning to them that influence 
and rank which under various pretences have 
long been almost exclusively usurped by other 
and less important classes. 

That a more general knowledge of the 
theoretical and practical details of agricultural 
science should be diffused among the youth of 
our land, is unquestionably exceedingly de- 
sirable. The importance to the future farmer, 
of such a thorough and minute acquaintance 
with the details of his prolession, as may en- 
able him to accomplish the highest prac- 
ticable results with the least expenditure of 
time and niaterial, and in the most direct, ju- 
dicious and efficient mode, can scarcely be 
over-rated. This knowledge can oi.ly be ac- 
quired by the union of practical experience 
with scientific investigation and research: and 
where can the elements of the latter be more 
readily found and successfully prosecuted than 
in our common schools.^ It may, probably, 
safely be assumed that nine out of ten of 
those who are in the habit of attending these 
schools in the rural districts, are destined to 
become practical agriculturists. Why, then, 
5-hould not more ample and systematic provi- 
sion be made for such a course of study and 
of education in these institutions, as sliall meet 
the reciuireiiients of this large class of pupils 
— especially when by the adoption of such a 
course the interests of the remaining pupils 
can in no respect be injuriously affected. "* A 
course of study which sliould jirepaie those for 
whom it is more particulaily designed for an 
enlightened and systematic cultivation of the 
soil, with (!)c view of obtaining (he highest 
and most permanent rewards of labor and in- 
dustry, whilst it would exclude no single 
branch of science necessary to success in any 
other profession, trade or calling, would con- 
fer incalculable additional benefits, direct and 



12 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



indirect, upon those who may never have oc- 
casion to till the earth either for subsistence or 
profit. The ordinary branches of common 
school education — orthography, reading, writ- 
ing, arithmetic, grammar and geography, are 
equally essential to every class of pupils, 
whatever may be their subsequent desfination. 
A knowledge of the higher branches of the 
mathematics, of algebra, geometry, survey- 
ing, trigonometry, astronomy, geology, natural 
philosophy in all its departments, and even «>f 
rhetoric and belles-lettres, is as indispensable 
to the enlightened farmer and horticulturist of 
the present day, as to the scholar, the advo- 
cate, the clergyman, the merchant, the manu- 
facturer, the legislator or the judge. Habits 
of accurate and" practical observation — a fa- 
miliar acquaintance with the capabilities, pro- 
perties and varieties of soils — the nature and 
properties of the various minerals — the differ- 
ent species of grain and vegetables, and the 
principles which regulate their growth and im- 
provement — the distinction between useful and 
noxious plants — the uses and most advantage- 
ous mode of cultivating and improving the 
one, and the means of extirpation, when neces- 
sary, of the other — the effects of air, of light, 
heat, moisture and vegetable decomposition 
upon plants — the various species and habits of 
domestic animals — the principles which deter- 
mine the uses and value of the different classes 
of trees — and in short, a ready and intelligent 
practical knowledge of the most ordinary 
pursuits of agriculture and horticulture, could 
not fail of proving eminently serviceable in 
any condition, either of public or private life. 
Is it wise, then, to send forth our six hundred 
thousand children annually from our public 
schools, in entire ignorance, so far as the di- 
rect instructions of the teacher are concerned, 
of those pursuits which must of necessity enter 
so largely in one shape or anotiier, into the 
whole tenor of their future lives.' Can that 
be denominated a practical education, or 
an enlightened system of public instruction, 
which for all practical purposes leaves out 
of view so important adepartment of intellec- 
tual culture.' 

But there is another view of this svibject 
which suggests itseU to my mind as peculiarly 
worthy of regard and attention. Would not 
the various elementary studies which are taught 
in our common schools, be far more speedily 
appreciated and rendered interesting and at- 
tractive, by their perceived connection with 
the practical pursuits of every -day life? — 
Would not the apparently inexplicable mys- 
teries enveloped within the folds of the obnoxi- 
ous and wearisome task-book become invest- 
ed with a new life and a new nature by the 
application of their principles to the circle of 
observation within the range of the inquisitive 
pupil? From tlie names, qualities, properties 
and powers of every portion of animate or in- 
animate nature, familiar to his eye or ear, 
to the most profound principles of dynamics, 
hydrostatics or mensuration, illustrated in the 



operations of the farm on or near which he 
resides, lie would be enabled at once to per- 
ceive the objects and the uses of all science, 
and all knowledge — to trace its results in the 
limited field of observation open to his view, 
and from thence to infer its capabilities and 
powers when applied on a more expanded 
scale. Is there not reason to believe that a 
process of this nature, conducted under the 
auspices of a corps of well qualified and effi 
cient educators, scattered among the ten thou- 
sand school districts of our state, and aided by 
a competent supply of elementary text-books 
and well-digested essays for the District Li- 
brary, might operate a complete transforma- 
tion of our existing systems of agricultural 
science into practical results of enduring 
beauty and value ? 

Such, on a limited scale, has been its effect 
in portions of Continental Europe, where the 
experiment has been tried under circumstan- 
ces favorable to its complete development. 
The agricultural condition of Bavaria, in 
Germany, has undergone an improvement dur- 
ing the present century, exceeding that of 
any other country of equal extent in civilized 
Europe, with the exception perhaps of Scot- 
land. The greatimpulse to this improvement 
originated in the primary schools, where agri- 
culture and horticulture were taught theoreti- 
cally and practically. Not only were the best 
elementary treatises on gardening, agriculture, 
domestic economy, the qualities of different 
soils, the effects of chemical compounds, the 
management of silk worms and the culture of 
silk, introduced as text-books into the differ- 
ent schools, but to each school was attached 
at least half an acre of land for experimental 
gardening, under the instruction of a teacher, 
who was required to be a practical agiicultu- 
rist. " Since these schools have come into 
action" says an intelligent tourist in that coun- 
try, "an entirely new generation of cultivators 
has arisen, and the consequence is, that agri- 
culture in Bavaria is carrisd to a higher de- 
gree of perfection than it is any where else in 
the central part of Germany. The result of 
the whole of the information procured and of 
the observations made, is, that we think the in- 
habitants of Bavaria promise soon to be, if 
they are not already, the happiest people in 
Germany." 

Nor has the influence of this enlightened 
system of agricultural instruction in the prima- 
ry schools of that country, been confined to 
the mere improvement of the soil. "The 
roads, bridges asd other public works have 
undergone a corresponding improvement; in- 
dividual comforts have been greatly multiplied ; 
business of every kind has been improved; 
and human intellect, reanimated as it were, 
has burst its cerements and become an effi- 
cient aid in the noble work of improvement. 
The public roads are all lined with ornamental 
fruit-bearing or forest trees, and furnished 
with guide-boards, mile-stones, and seats, at 
intervals, of stones or sods for the weary travel- 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



13 



er." This novel species of education and the 
blessings which have flowed from it, and the 
still greater blessings which appear in pros- 
pect, have resulted from the wise provisions of 
the government aided by individual enterprise. 
M. Hazzi, the editor of an agricultural jour- 
nal at Munich, an active philanthropist and a 
devoted patriot, contributed essentially to a 
result so gratifying. 

It was the opinion of Fellenberg, one of the 
most enlightened and judicious educators of 
the age, and the founder of the well known 
school at Hofwyl, that agricultural pursuits 
were most favorable to a sound and healthy 
development of the mind — that the child when 
surrounded and occupied with the objects of 
Nature, instead of the productions of human 
skill, the arts and sciences which are at once 
the work of man and the sceptre of his power, 
perceives continually such luxuriant richness, 
such varying and inimitable beauty, such im- 
mense operations, as to place the highest ef- 
forts of man in the strongest contrast with In- 
finite Power; and that such a praciical and 
scientific acquaintance with agriculture, as 
may, under proper regulations, be taught in 
our elementary institutions of learning, fur- 
nishes the most ample means for direct intel- 
lectual instruction and moral improvement. 
In a physical point of view, it contributes, in 
his judgment, to health and vigor of body, 
from the necessity of active employment in 
the open air, when in its purest state; and as a 
science, tends not only to cultivate the spirit of 
observation and of systematic effort, to exer- 
cise the judgment, and to produce habits of 
foresight and prudence, but to the acquisition 
and practice of the most important branches 
of knowledge. In laying out and arranging 
the ground for different crops, in the various 
processes of irrigation, in removing stones 
from the fields and clearing the ground of 
weeds, in the selection and improvement of the 
various instruments of husbandry, and the best 
methods of cultivation of the soil, scarcely a 
department of intellectual science fails to be 
frequently put in requisition; and the constant 
necessity of order, industry, foresight, discri- 
mination, regularity and accuracy, exercises 
the moral faculties, in a mode best adapted to 
their harmonious and proper development. 

The practicability, then, of uniting elemen 
tary instruction in our common schools with 
agricultural science, and of so combining 
them as to produce results eminently favora 
bleto physical, intellectual and moral culture, 
has been amply demonstrated in the educa- 
tional institutions of Continental Europe. Is 
there any thing in our institutions, our civili- 
zation, our Societies, which should induce us 
to doubt the full success of the exi)eriment 
here .'' Are we not eminently an agricultural 
people .'' Are we not provided with every fa- 
cility in our school district organization, for 
the practical adoption of a scheme which com- 
mends itself unhesitatingly to our most mature 
judgment, and which alone cin give to our 



rising millions that sound and useful know- 
ledge requisite to enable them adequately to 
fulfil the great mission with which they are 
entrusted — the advancement of civilization — 
the diffusion of science — and the final and com- 
plete triumph ol republican freedom .' Ample 
means are at our command : and it only re- 
mains that an enlightened public sentiment 
indicate the course to which reason, interest 
and duty alike point. This may be done, and 
to a very great extent has already been done, 
through the agency of the agricultural press; 
through the operations of the State Society 
and its county branches — and especially by 
the various ofQcers in any way connected with 
our extensive and admirably organized Com- 
mon School System, interspersed throughout 
every portion of the state, and possessing un- 
equalled facilities for the guidance and direc- 
tion of the public mind. 

" To me " says Governor Seward in his 
message of 1841, " the most interesting- of all 
our republican institutions, is the Common 
School." In this sentiment, every enlightened 
philanthropist,every right-judging citizen, will 
readily concur. Looking forward to the time, 
when, instead of "the miserable and dilapida- 
ted edifices" which in too large a proportion 
of our school districts offend the eye and the 
taste, spacious and commodious erections, 
combining architectural grace and beauty, 
with comfort, health and convenience, shall be 
found — when instead of the tedious and mo- 
notonous routine of miscalled instruction, 
which by its disagreeable associations has 
rendered knowledge tasteless and insipid to so 
many of our youth — education, in the hands of 
thoroughly qualified teachers, shall assume a 
praciical cast, and become the means of a sys- 
tematic, full and harmonious development of 
all the physical, mental and moral faculties of 
our nature — when the lessons ot the school- 
room shall be agreeably diversified with intel- 
lectual and moral teaching, with music and 
drawing and painting — and the hours of ne- 
cessary relaxation be divided between the 
exuberant and heaUhful sports of childhood, 
and the no less healthful, no less pleasing cul- 
ture of flowers and shrubs and trees, in an am- 
ple portion of the playground set apart for 
this purpose — when the long winter evenings 
shall be enlivened and animated by the perusal 
of the choicest productions of literature and 
science in all their various departments, ' 'with- 
out money and without price;" when in short, 
the Common School and the District Library 
shall be made to unfold their exhaustless capa- 
bilities of disciplining the youth of our land in 
all the essential requisites of practical know- 
ledge and goodness and virtue — we shall see the 
most abundant cause for congratulation on the 
wise and beneficent policy which has hereto- 
fore so liberally aided these invaluable institu- 
tions. 

If, in view of the importance of a practical 
and permanent connection of the groat inter- 
ests of Agriculture and Public Instruction, I 



14 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



might venture to throw out a few brief sugges- 
tions for the consideration of the intelligent 
body of which you, sir, are chairman, I would 
respectfully recommend the organization of 
auxiliary associations in each of the eleven 
thousand school districts of the state, to con- 
sist of such of the inhabitants of the district as 
might feel an interest in the subject, and of 
Ihe teacher and pupils of the school; the pur- 
chase of at least an acre or two of suitable land 
adjacent, if practicable, to the school-house, to 
serve as a model farm , and to be exclusively 
cultivated by the male children under the di- 
rection either of the teacher, if qualified, or of 
a committee or agent of the association; and 
the conversion of a portion of the play-ground 
attached to the school, into an ornamental 
garden, to be cultivated and superintended by 
the young ladies of the school and district. 
For the purpose of a more general and tho- 
rough diffusion of agricultural and horticultu- 
ral information, I would also recommend the 
preparation of a series of practical- works de- 
voted to the elucidation of agriculture in its 
various departments, for the District Library, 
and of proper elementary text books on this 
subject, for the school. 

1 am, sir, very respectfully your ob't. serv't, 
S. S. RANDALL, 
Dep. Sup. Common Schools. 

[From Dr. T. Romeyn Beck.] 

Albany, July 8th, 1844. 
H. O'Reilly, Esq., Sec. State Agnc. Society, 

Dear Sir — I received your printed Circu- 
lar, relative to the proposed introduction of 
works trealihgoii agricullure intoourscliools, 
on (he Isl inst. As the time for forwarding 
answers is limited to the lOlh, you will of 
course .scarcely expect moie than a brief ex- 
j res-sion of my views on this important subject. 

I consider it an unquestionable and perfiectly 
established fact, that the science of agricul- 
ture is intimately connected with, and indeed 
dependent on, the science of chemistry. Any 
attempt to separate the.se, must result in the 
continuance of the present empirical practice 
of many farmers ; for unless it be shown to 
them, by a reference to the laws and pheno- 
mena of nature, that they are wholly or par- 
tially wrong, they will adhere (and indeed are 
in a measure justified in so doing) to the ways 
and customs of their forefathers. 

With this conviction, I am of opinion, that 
if a treatise could be prepared — in the first 
place elementary as to chemistry, embracing 
all the important information needed as to 
the constitution of the air — of water — of the 
various elementary substances, dwelling par- 
ticularly on those which form the principal 
constituents of the soil; and with so much of 
geology as explains the changes it has under- 
gone or is undergoing; and then concluding 
with a cautious and if possible practical view 
of the experiments made by agriculturists, it 
would be a very useful one for the more ad- 
vanced scholars in our schools. 



But I deprecate in the first place the too 
early use of such books and studies — pushing 
aside the primary objects of early study — viz : 
the knowledge of our own language in its 
most comprehensive sense, from orthography 
up to composition — the knowledge of arithme- 
tic — of geography — of the history of our own 
country — of the duties and privileges of the 
young scholar when he shall become a citizen. 

Every thing in its place. The tendency now- 
a-days is almost too exclusively towards phy- 
sical subjects of investigation^ — and we are 
paying for it, as a community and a nation. 

I must also express an apprehension, lest 
the present brilliant era in agricultural che- 
mistry, and which has attracted so many su- 
perior minds to its investigation, may meet 
with some overshadowing in the overthrow of 
several of its prevailing doctrines. Certainly 
great differences of opinion are constantly 
manifesting themselves, and this should render 
the author or compiler of the proposed work, 
whoever he may be, very cautious, as to what 
he makes part of his treatise. 

I remain, very truly yours, 

T. ROMEYN BECK. 

From D. P. Gardner, Agricultural Chemist, author of 
the ' Influence of Light on Vegetation,' &c.] 

New-York, July 6, 1844. 

To H O'Reili-t, Es<i. 

Dear Sir — I had the honor to receive on 
the •2dth ult., your letter containing a Circular 
from the State Ag. Society, requesting infor- 
mation on the introduction of agricultural 
knowledge into the public schools. 

It is unnecessary to make many remarks on 
the great advantages which will flow from 
such a measure, not only as a means of im- 
proving tillage, but by furnishing the scholars 
witli the rudiments of a knowledge which will 
iiLsure lo them in alter life the means of acqui- 
ring an honorable employment. Numbers of 
the industrious class engaged in field labor, 
who now send their children unwillingly to 
school, will fake an interest in seeing them in- 
structed in so important a subject. It is, 
moreover, in the minds of children, unbiassed 
by the dogmas of old prejudices, that the pro- 
per soil will be found to implant the facts of 
scientific agriculture. The germ of know- 
ledge thus gathered in our public schools will 
call for its development the instructions of 
agricultural colleges ; our art will become a 
profession ; the judgment and energy of the 
human intellect will be the agents of cultiva- 
tion to a greater extent than the ox and 
ploughshare. 

The mistaken ambition which hurries so 
many youths from the country into towns, vviH 
be restrained -by opening a road to advance- 
ment and reputation on the farm; and much of 
the talent and enterprise which are allowed to 
pine away in unsuccessful attempts to .secure 
professional reputation and competency, will 
be directed to the cultivation of the soil — the 
most natural and satisfactory of all pursuits. 

But the necessity for proper economy, and 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



15 



all other appliances to farming', is becoming, 
with our State especially, a matter of s^ern ne- 
cessity. Through the Erie canal we have 
generously invited competition with the virgin 
lands of the West, and it is only by the appli- 
cation of a strictly economical and improved 
tillage that we can sustain our position in the 
market. 

The point of greatest importance is the se- 
lection of proper books for the schools. On 
this topic, as I have been for upwards of seven 
years engaged in teaching physical science, 
I will take the liberty of offering some re- 
marks. 

It is a misfortune that the treatises on agri- 
culture at present enjoying most reputation 
are either purely scientific or practical. 

The worksof Johnston, Davy, Liebig, Spren 
gel, Boussingault, Payen, Daubeny, &c., are 
unintelligible to any but well informed che- 
mists. Whereas the mass of English writers 
as Low, Stephens, Loudon, Rham, Ransome, 
Johnson, Youatt, Blacklock, and the treatises 
of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Know- 
ledge, are devoted to practical details. 

It will be necessary for your committee to 
require a new set of books, which will convey 
full information in a simple way, but contain- 
ing the germs of future scientific knowledge. 
This task is by no means easy. If we are for- 
tunate in living during an age when agricul- 
ture is beginning to be correctly studied, we 
are unfortunate in finding ourselves placed 
between the conflicting opinions of three dif- 
ferent theories — that of Payen and tlie French 
school , who attribute the efficacy of all manures 
to ammonia; Liebig's doctrine that potash and 
saline matters are the great fertilizing agents, 
and the theory of Saussure that plants flourish 
on the soluble manures which are taken into 
their structure. The last view has been so 
much favored by the farmers of the United 
States, that it is feared its incorrectness and 
absurdity are not sufficiently manifest. The 
recent award of a prize for an Essay on Ma- 
nures, by the Mass. Agr. Society, is a proof of 
its popularity. It may however, occur to the 
members of your Committee, that in elementa 
ry books no allusion to theory is necessary; 
but in the present instance theory is of the 
first consequence, for so diverse is the prac- 
tise suggested by these three doctrines, that 
whoever writes on manures must constantly 
have them in view. Thus Liebig's theory 
renders the collection of feculent matters a 
secondary affair, the use of mineral manures 
and salts of primary importance; in practise it 
suggests the inutility of keeping cattle for 
manure — whereas Payen and his school re- 
gard stall manures as the great and almost 
only resource of the improver. 

It is out of place here to attempt to recon- 
cile these discordant doctrines. There is 
nmch attention therefore necessary in adopt- 
ing such a general view as may form the 
groundwork of a system of instruction. Al- 
low me to suggest, in place of any of these 



theoretical systems, the introduction of such 
preliminary studies as shall place in the hands 
of students the means of forming in due time 
an independent opinion. It is more desirable 
that they should be fully taught the facts than 
the I'ancies of scientific agriculture. 

It would be necessary in carrying out this 
suggestion, to call for the preparation of such 
text-books as may convey a full and accurate 
history of all chemical bodies necessary to 
farming, found in the surface and subsoil, in 
plants, &c.; the structure of the earth, so far 
as drainage, the nature of soils, &c. is con- 
cerned; the history of plants, their develop- 
ment in horticulture, an account of such as 
may be introduced into culture, &c. 

These views, for sometime operating on my- 
self, have already engaged me in the prepara- 
tion of two treatises designed as text-books 
for schools, and intended to be forwarded to 
your prize committee, entitled the Chemistry 
of Farming and the Botany of Farming. 

Should the subject be similarly viewed by 
your committee, it will afford me great encour- 
agement to continue ; otherwise I beg that any 
different plan may be communicated to me. 

Another point worthy of attention is the 
possession of a tract of land whereon the pu- 
pils might see the application of all new pro- 
cesses, the advantages of recent agricultural 
implements, and become conversant with all 
that is mechanical about a farm. This would 
be especially useful to such pupils as had com- 
pleted their education : it woulil establish their 
theoretical knowledge by practice, make them 
efficient farmers and laborers, and might con- 
tribute in no small degree to the maintenance 
of the schools. 

Yours very respectfully, 

D. P. GARDNER. 

[From Dr. Prime, Principal of the Newburgh Academy.] 

Newburgh, July 3d, 1844. 

Hon. JoHK Greig, 
Chairman of Committee of State Agricultural Society : 

Sir — I yesterday received from Mr. O'Reilly 
a circular letter, soliciting my views " re- 
specting theintroductionof agricultural studies 
into schools," &c., and I take the earliest op- 
portunity to reply. 

It is strange that there should exist an opin- 
ion in the mind of any man against such a 
course; and yet, strange as it may seem, I am 
aware that there is at least a great want of in- 
terest in the community at large, on this im- 
portant subject. Even the greater part of 
those who are practically engaged in the busi- 
ness of agriculture, still cling pertinaciously 
to old methods, and entertain a prejudice 
amounting to even aversion against a rational 
system of farming. So strong is this feeling, 
that I have long been accustomed to view as 
next to hopeless, any effort to produce a 
change in the present acting generation. They 
must remain as they are, with a few honorable 
exceptions, and our hopes and efforts must be 
directed to the young who ar<e now looking 



16 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



forward to active life . Regarding the matter in 
this light, I more than two years since com- 
menced an elementary work on scientific ag- 
riculture, intended expressly for use in common 
schools. But the apathy which prevailed on the 
subject attlmt time, and the hopelessness of in- 
troducing it, at least in some years, as well as a 
crowd of other occupations, induced me to 
relinquish it. But I do regard it, sir, as a 
matter of the highest importance that it 
should be made a branch of learning in our 
primary schools, as well as those of a higher 
grade. My own experience in teaching has 
given me abundant reason to know that no 
book of science can be put into the hands of 
a boy, which is studied with greater zest and 
interest than the science of agriculture and its 
kindred branches. It opens his mind to the 
operations of the world he has before viewed 
only with the eye of habit, and he now sees 
life and power where he before saw only a 
plant growing upon a lifeless clod, (and saw no 
more, because he had been accustomed to see 
it from his infancy,) and his mind and his heart 
expand with the newly acquired knowledge. 
I speak of it now only as a study in its etfects 
upon the mind, and not in its practical bear- 
ings. But when we remember that the foun- 
dation of a nation's prosperity is in the soil — 
that when agriculture ceases, all the arts cease 
with it, and that the development of the re- 
sources of the soil in the least degree depends 
upon the principles of science, then a thorough 
knowledge of the relations of vegetable life 
becomes of paramount importance. 

Undoubtedly the large majority of children 
who are educated in our primary school*, are 
those who are to be eufjaged in agriculture, 
and tlie large majority of these receive here 
all Iho education they ever receive. This fact 
ought to be enough to satisfy any one, that if 
any cliange is to tiike place in the methods of 
carrying on this art — if our future farmers are 
to be thinking, reasoning, scientific farmers, 
the foundation is to be laid here, 

A seeming objection may arise from the in- 
capability of the teacliers of common schools 
to instruct in these branches. The objection 
is but a seeming one. It would indeed re- 
quire an extra qualification in a teacher, but I 
view this as so much gained. Every thing 
which raises the standard of qualification in 
teachers, adds dignity and usefulness to the 
station. And it is matter of sincere regret, 
that so few of the teachers of elementary 
schools are, to say the least, capable of giving 
instruction in any thing beyond the mere rou- 
tine of the district school. Any attempt to 
lower the standard of qualification, I should 
deeply regret — any attempt to elevate it, I re- 
joice in. But even taking the standard as it 
is now, if the text-books adopted are of that 
simple, elementary kind, which in my opinion 
they ought to be, comprehending chiefly facts 
and principles, it would require but a small 
amount of extra labor, and that a most pleas- 



ing and useful one, for a teacher to preparer 
himself for his new duty. 

The introduction of agricultural works into 
the District Libraries, I regard as only a step 
forward in the same cause. To the pupils it will * 
afford an opportunity for enlarging and ex- 
tending the knowledge they acquire from ele- 
mentary books in the school. To the teacher 
such works will be all important in preparing 
to teach others, and to the community they 
will be a circulating library of the most use- 
ful and interesting science. I believe that in 
no other way can such knowledge be as exten- 
sively and rapidly diffused. And if teachers 
take the interest in it that they ought, thty will 
soon become capable of teaching beyond the 
bounds of their school-rooms, and become a 
class of most extensively useful men. But 
upon this point I need not enlarge. Indeed, 
I fear that I have already exceeded your pa- 
tience. Let me say, in conclusion, upon this 
subject, that I regard this movement as one of 
immense importance, not only as it affects 
most deeply individual, but also in an eminent 
degree, public prosperity. We must always 
be an agricultural people; and this movement, 
if carried out, will have a mighty effect upon 
the moral, intellectual and pecuniary interests 
of the nation. 

I am, sir, yours, &c. 

A. J. PRIME. 

[From John J. Thomas, author of several Prize Essays 

on Agriculture, <fcc.] 

Macedon, 7th month, 1844. 

H. O'Reilly: 

RESPECTKn Friend — Thy request for 
suerg'estions relative to the introduction of the 
stud}^ of agricultUT'e into common schools, is 
only this moment received. The importance 
of the acquiienient of what is known in this 
great ait, which employs a vast majority of 
our |.opulation and furnishes subsistence for 
the whole, by those who are likely to spend 
their whole lives in its pursuits, cannot, of 
course, be questioned. But the best means of 
attaining this end, requires much attention. 

The introduction of^ this study into schools, 
if properly done, would without doubt prove 
of the highest benefit to the country. It should 
be remembered that more than nineteen-twen- 
tieths of our farmers appear, at least by their 
practice, to be quite unacquainted with the 
best systems of farming; or at least do not de- 
rive one-half the profits from their farms that 
a better directed course would give them, and 
which now actually does give a few of 
our best agriculturists. Hence the great im- 
portance of laying before all our young farm- 
ers, the means by which these profits may be 
secured — to say nothing of the moral influence 
which the thriving and prosperous, neat and 
systematic prosecution of this rural pursuit 
would have indirectly on the habits of the peo- 
ple — must be at once obvious. 

But a question arises, whether the applica- 
tion of science to agriculture shall be chiefly 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



17 



taught, or whether the modern improved system 
of farming, as already established by the full 
experience and thorough practice of the best 
farmers of the present age, should be adopted 
for a course of study. The former would be 
theoretical to a great extent, and embrace 
many suggestions yet to be brought to bear 
upon practice ; the latter would comprise what 
practice has already established as of decided 
excellence, and worthy, not of trial merely, 
but of adoption at once. In the latter would 
be included the best modern systems of rotation 
of crops — (he best proved modes of making 
manure — the operations of draining and irri- 
gation — the use of improved implements 
■^the culture of root crops as food for domes- 
tic animals — the raising of the best breeds of 
animals — in all of which vast improvements 
might be made, and in some, even the first 
steps be taken by a great majority of our 
farmers. 

While I would not wish in the least degree 
to undervalue the benefits which science is 
likely to confer on the cultivation of the soil, 
I cannot but agree with Henry Colman in the 
opinion that the agricultural millennium is not 
yet quite at hand. Many years of long and 
weary trial must yet elapse before various 
points, now considered by some as about set- 
tled, can be fully set at rest by satisfactory ex- 
periments; these experiments cannot well be 
tried except by the enterprising and scientific 
few: at least we ought not to teach our young- 
farmers promiscuously to look to great dis- 
coveries and golden harvests from this source, 
while they yet remain unacquainted with the 
best practice of the day, already thoroughly 
established, and which, if generally known 
and carried out, would increase by millions 
the annual products of our State. While, 
theretore, the reasons on which good prac- 
tice is founded, should be well understood, 
I would not embarrass beginners with the study 
of theories which are dividing the eminent 
chemists of the day, and who, it is to be re- 
gretted, are spending their time in trying to 
arrive at conclusions by arguments in their 
closets, rather than by the only true and satis- 
factory means — the evidence of full and accur- 
ately conducted experiments on the farm. 

I should hence consider that books for this 
purpose should give the results of past and pre- 
sent experience, systematically arranged, 
clearly explained, and, when practicable, en- 
forced by plain, scientific explanations; but 
science, without full practical proof, should 
be admitted with extreme caution, as the dis- 
appointment, on trial, of fiilse hopes, or the 
failure of high expectations, might result in 
more injury, not only to science, but to agri- 
culture itself, than could easily be repaired. 

I regret that the few minutes which the late 
receipt of thy letter has allowed me, do not 
permit me to explain myself more fully, but 
I shall be glfid if any of these remarks may 
be of any use ►<> thee in placing the subject in 



a proper shape before the committee on the 
subject. 

Very respectfully, 

J. J. THOMAS. 

[From Mr. Lee of Erie, Chairman of Committee on 
Agriculture in the Assembly.] 

Buffalo, July 7, 1844. 

Hon. John Greio, Chairman of Com. State Ag. Society: 

Dear Sir— I am informed by the Recording 
Secretary of the N.Y. State Agricultural Socie- 
ty, that you are chairman of a committee ap- 
pointed to examine Essays or works on the 
Science of Agriculture, presented for premi- 
ums, and written with a view to introduce its 
study as a branch of useful knowledge into 
our common schools. 

Several members of your committee need 
not be informed that the undersigned feels a 
profound interest in the success of this noble 
undertaking. It is an object worthy of the 
enlightenetl patriotism and i>hilanthropy of 
the gentlemen who have made the State Agri- 
cultural Society what it is. I speak freely 
upon the subject, for it is one upon which I 
have bestowed much thought. Indeed, hav- 
ing devoted a large portion of my life to prac- 
tical farming, and the study of those branches 
of natural science most intimately connected 
with rural pursuits, I have thought, after se- 
veral years experience in writing for the 
press, that I might venture to write a woik on 
the "Study of Agriculture," with a 
reasonable hope of making it useful as a com- 
mon school book. 

If the writer of this have any ambition, it is to 
render, as far as his humble efforts will permit, 
the brilliant discoveries in modern science, 
serviceable in the highest degree to the toiling 
millions, whose well or ill directed labor must 
ever be employed in cultivating the earth. 
How is this to be done ? 

I answer, by establishing a State Agricul- 
tural School; and by making the study of 
rural economy an important element in our 
whole educational system. It is needless for 
me to enlarge upon this topic. With permis- 
sion, however, I will give a brief outline of 
the plan, which, on mature reflection, I have 
adopted in the treatise I am now writing on 
the " Study of Agriculture:" 

The subject is di£cussed both as a Science 
and an yfrt. 

The Science is considered under the follow- 
ing four distinct heads: 

First. Agricultural Geology. 

Secondly. Agricultural Chemistry. 

Thirdly. Oriranic Structure and Physiology 
of Cultivated Plants. 

Fourthly. Organic Structure and Physiolo- 
gy of Domestic Animals. 

Under the head of " Art of Agriculture," 
will be considered the skilful applicntion of 
muscular power, whether of man or brute, by 
the aid and use of rural impl'^ments, to accom- 
plish in the best manner, and at the least ex- 



18 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pense, all the mechanical operations peiform- 
ed by the practical aj^ricullurist. 

In writing a work for the use of schools on 
the science and practice of good husbandry, 
the author is taking great pains to make his 
language and ideas clear and to the point. 
The meaning of all uncommon words and 
technical terms will be explained in a Glossa- 
ry. The too common fault of constructing 
long and obscure sentences will be carefully 
avoided. 

How far I shall succeed in getting out a 
good Text-Book, adapted alike to the agricul- 
ture of my native state and the capacity of 
the more advanced pupils attending our com- 
mon schools, time alone can determine. All 
I can hope to do in the matter this year is, to 
issue from the press one volume of moderate 
size, on Agricultural Geology and Chemistry. 

If any one of your committee, or other gen- 
tlemen, will suggest any hints calculated to 
aid me in this arduous enterprise, they will be 
very gratefully received by 

Your humble servant, 

DANIEL LEE. 

[From T. C Peters, Presideat of the Genesee Agricul- 
tural Society.] 

Darien, July 8th, 1844. 

H. O'Reilli, Esq: 

My Dear Sir — Your favor of the 16th 
ult . came duly to hand, as did also the circu- 
lar. 

On the subject of introducing " Agricul- 
tural Knowledge into Schools and Libraries," 
I have had for many years but one mind. Un- 
til it is 'done, we can never make any really 
permanent improvement in agriculture. We 
may get up a fevernow and then in particular 
localities ; but when the excitement is over, 
the matter is at an end. 

The plan which has appeared to me the 
most feasible in the outset, is, to place a vo- 
lume of the Transactions of the State Society 
in every District Library annually. 

This would give an interest to the subject, 
and would more universally awaken public 
sentiment than any other course that could be 
adopted. 

The next thing would be to have a text- 
book or books, perhaps a series, containing 
1st. A treatise on cattle; 2d. On sheep and 
hogs; 3d. horses; 4th. poultry, &c. They 
must not be large books; but should contain 
drawings, &c., to illustrate the various sub- 
jects treated upon. 

Teachers should be qualified to teach as 
much of agriculture in schools, as can well be 
taught by theory alone; but that is the work 
of time. The books can be put in circula- 
tion within a very short time; and the sooner 
it is done, the better. 

I think the books coidd be sold readily; but 
they should be put cheap, and the Secretary of 
State and the County Superintendents should 
recommend their adoption in every district. 
Great care would he requisite to have the 



books got up rigVt. They should be publish- 
ed under the supervision of a committee of 
common-sense practical men, who are among 
and of the people — practical farmers. Facts 
should be given as much as possible. Let 
every man make his own theory. One fault 
of our agricultural books, is the prevalence of 
theory over facts. 

I have written you hastily, and perhaps 
crudely; but you must guess at what you do 
not understand. I am always ready to do all 
I can for the great cause, but do not think my 
views can be of much importance among the 
great number who will be consulted on the 
subject, or who will express themselves, called 
or uncalled: such as they are, you have them; 
and if you think them worth the trouble, you 
may lay them before the committee. 

I am very busy about these days, or I would 
talk more with you on this and other matters. 
Sincerely yours, 

T. C. PETERS. 

[From Lyman B. Langworthy, President of the Monroe 
County Agricultural Society.] 

Hanford Landing, July 9th, 1844. 
H. O'Reillt, Sec. &c: 

Sir — Your favor, containing a Circular re- 
questing my views on the subject of the intro- 
duction of agriculture as a branch of educa- 
tion in our primary schools, and also what de- 
scri()tion of books would be best adapted to 
facilitate that object, was duly received. My 
ideas must inevitably be very crude, consider- 
ing my constant avocations and the shortness 
of the time required fur their arrival at head- 
quarters. Although the subject has been 
broached by the public journals, yet, as far 
as I am conversant, it has not become familiar 
with the masses, and has not been agitated 
with any supposition of its adoption. I ara 
entirely convinced of the immense importance, 
that correct notions should prevail among the 
farming community on that subject which is 
paramount to all others, and one which, unlike 
our political faith, is not matter of opinion, but 
a science capable of the strictest analysis, 
proof, and illustration. 

The age at which boys of the working 
classes are taken from school by nine-tenths of 
the families in the country, would seem to in- 
terpose a barrier to the philanthropic project 
of enlightening and enlarging their minds on 
a matter upon which "children of a larger 
growth" are deplorably deficient. It is also 
a subject upon which a doubt may be indulg- 
ed, whether the great mass of teachers will 
ever possess the necessary qualifications 
for its elucidation. They are usually young 
men "with souls above buttons," and ah 
though fi^rmers' sons, have very little prac- 
tical knowledge of even the commonest ma- 
nipulations of husbandry, much less of the 
elements of the art as a science: they usu- 
ally quit the occupation after a few years, 
and very few make it a permanent pro- 
fession and source of livelihood; and until 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



19 



Normal 7\achers' Schools shall become more 
numerous, and the profession more honorable 
and profitable, and qualifications for (hat par- 
ticular branch are made Indispensable to ad- 
mission as teachers, fears in my oi)inion may 
be indulged, whether any great improvements 
would inmiediately grow out of the introduc- 
tion of that branch of studies into our com- 
mon school*;, commensurate with the expec- 
tations of its patriotic projectors: And yet I 
see no pal[)able objection to its introduction: 
even as lessons for practice in reading and 
reciting, they would be equally valuable, and 
perhaps more interesting than many abstruse 
subjects now admitted into the books in com- 
mon use; and some of the seeds might catch 
and vegetate although sown on the meagre 
and shallow soils of the " apple-munching 
urchin." 

It is important that the books to be intro- 
duced into schools on the subject of agricul- 
ture should be interesting and alluring in the 
highest degree, and adapted to the capacities 
of the young mind: they should embrace the 
great leading truths, combined with the 
modern lights and discoveries in the science, 
clothed in familiar language, of a sprightly 
and engaging tone. 

If I had leisure, I would send you some- 
thing of what I conceive would approximate 
to what v^ould be required in the premises. 
Much good may grow out of the proposition 
to introduce this subject into our common 
schools: it cannot be charged with any of the 
"abstractions" of modern projectors; and at 
any rate, it can work no evil that I can con- 
ceive of. It therefore shall have my hearty 
support, at least as a wise attempt to do good 
in a quarter of greater importance perhaps 
than any other, exce[)t a correct knowledge 
of the religious and moral duties of man to 
God and his fellow. 

With great respect, your obt. friend, 
L. B. LANGWOr.THY. 



{From Smford Howard, Associate Editor of the " Cul- 
tivator. "] 

Albany, July 10, 1844. 

Hon John Grieg, Chairman, &.C. 

I have received a copy of the Circular of 
the New-York Slate Agricultural Society, on 
the subject of the introduction of Agriculture 
as a branch of study in our schools and semi- 
naries. I have given the subject but little 
reflection, and am not prepared to write an 
elaborate essay; but you will be good enough 
to receive my hasty remarks for whatever you 
may deem them worth. 

In regard to books for the School Libraries, 
it appears tome that those on Natural History 
in general, would be very suitable. Perhaps 
the " Naturalist's Library" would compri-e 
more that would be valuable under the head of 
Zoology, than could be so well obtained from 
any other quarter. In Geology, a work pub- 
lished in London under the title of "Geology 



for Beginners," seems well calculated for its 
object. 

I have no doubt that some instruction on 
Agriculture, and subjects having a bearing on 
that art, might be given in schools with good 
results; but the first thing will be to find those 
who are capable of giving it; for Agriculture 
and almost every thing belonging to it, has 
heretofore received little or no consideration 
in making up the qualifications of school 
teachers, and of course much knowledge of 
its principles is not at present to be expected 
in that class. 

On a subject where (here are so many doubt- 
ful and undecided questions as there are in all 
departments of Agriculture, the exercise of 
great caution is obviously necessary in laying 
down theories. It is far better that a child 
should form no opinions at all on these subjects, 
than that he should form erroneous ones; and 
the danger is, that opinions may be inculcat- 
ed, which after experience will prove to be 
wrong. 

Discussions in relation to vegetable and ani- 
mal physiology, the operation and value of 
substances contained in the soil or used as 
manure, are now going on; and even the most 
learned men — those who have devoted the most 
time and study to these matters — entertain on 
som.e points, very different opinions. It is 
hoped, and indeed believed, that these points 
will be, by further investigation and experi- 
ment, ultimately settled; but in tlie present 
state of affairs, it will hardly do to adopt either 
of the controverted systems. The disappoint- 
ment which follows the adoption of an errone- 
ous theory, always occasions perplexity, and 
if often experienced, is very likely (o create 
disgust and tocause a final aban lonment of the 
whole subject. 

But I did not intend to say more than to 
make one or two suggestions in relation to (he 
kind of instruction which appears to me most 
desirable. 

There are two branches of Natural Science 
not now taught in Common Schools, which, I 
think, might be to some extent advantageous- 
ly introduced. I allude to Entomology and 
Botany. In regard to the former, it may be 
safely asserted that, next to the slate of the 
weather, the success of farming operations de- 
pends more on the exemption of crops from 
the ravages of insects, than on any other cause. 
Yet it is notorious that very little information 
on the subject generally prevails. I would not, 
however, recommend a loo diffuse study of 
(his science — preferring that the attention of 
the pupil should be first directed to those in- 
sects which by (heir habits injuriously affect 
the interests of the farmer. And as one means 
of obtaining the desired information, I would 
suggest the formation oi entomological cabinets 
in every school district. Collections might 
easily be made — those insects which are most 
common in the several neighborhoods, being 
of course those whose depredations are most 
to bs guarded against. Procure some work. 



so 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



say Dr. Harris's " Insects of Massachusetts," 
and with that, in connexion with the closest 
study of the habits of each insect, let the sub- 
ject be at once illustrated and investigated. — 
This study need not encroach on other studies 
— the boys would soon be delighted with it, 
and instead of spending their out-of-school 
hours in hunting bird's nests, and killing birds 
and toads, (both natural enemies of insects, 
and designed to hold thena in check) — they 
would be found catching bugs and butterflies 
to fill the eabinets. By this course, so good 
a knowledge of the habits of insects would be 
obtained, that the best means of destroying 
ihem would be obvious. 

In relation to Botany, I intended my sug- 
gestion to refer principally to such plants as 
would be generally useful to the farmer in 
this section of country. These might be rea- 
dily collected, preserved, and botanically ar- 
ranged, and the peculiar habits and qualities 
of each explained. Let the natural location 
of each plant be pointed out, and its history 
since first cultivated, be briefly given, togeth- 
er with appropriate remarks on such characte- 
ristic changes as the plant may have undergone 
in the progress of its culture, &c. This, also, 
would soon become a very interesting study — 
its importance would be readily seen, and it 
would be pursued with avidity. 
Yours, &c. 

SANFORD HOWARD. 

[From M. B. Bateham, one of the committee on the 
part of the State Coavention of Common-School Su- 
perintendents.] 

N. G. Farmer Office, Rochester, July 9. 
Hon, JoHK Greio, Chairman of Committee, &c : 

Dear Sir — I take great pleasure in com- 
plying with the request of the Recording Secre- 
tary of the State Agricultural Society, to ofTer 
a few brief suggestions on the very important 
subject of introducing the study of Agricul- 
ture as a branch of popular instruction in our 
Common Schools. Being one of the com- 
mittee on this subject, appointed by the State 
Convention of superintendents and teachers in 
this city, and having acted with the Committee 
on Agriculture in that Convention ("in writing 
their report, &c.,) I will first take the liberty 
to offer a few words in explanation of one or 
two points on which it seems to me the State 
Society (or its Secretary) labors under some 
little misapprehension. 

The resolutions adopted by the Convention, 
it will be seen, recommend three different 
modes of aiding the cause of Agriculture by 
means of Common Schools. First: By lec- 
tures, dialogues, &c. from teachers. Second: 
By increasing the number of books on Agri- 
culture in the libraries; and, Third: By in- 
troducing the study of the elements of the 
science and practice of Agriculture as a re- 
gular branch of instruction for the older male 
pupils, by means of suitable text-books, &c. 
Now, thej^rsf of these modes can at once 
be put into practice by the superintendents 
and teachers. With this, I presume, the Com- 



mittee have nothing to do. The second mode 
requires the action of the Committee only so 
far as furnishing suitable works on Agri- 
culture for the libraries is concerned, and this 
duty we were happy to know was entrusted to 
able hands by the State Society — from whose 
labors we had no doubt a full supply would 
soon be forthcoming. It was therefore in re- 
lation only to the third mode that the Conven- 
tion felt the want of assistance and advice — 
and it was particularly with reference to this 
point that the Committee of which I am a 
member was appointed. The Convention had 
not considered the subject sufficiently to be 
prepared for any definite action thereon at 
present : and some of the delegates seemed to 
apprehend much difficulty in the way of at- 
taining the object. The principal difficulty 
however was thought to be the want of a 
suitable Text-Book for the Schools. It was 
found that the State Society had not made 
provision for such a tvork,*AnA therefore they 
were invited to appoint a committee to act 
with us in the matter. We did not suppose it 
was included in the duties of the Committee 
on Essays, &c., but I think it is well that the 
Executive Committee have seen fit thus to in- 
clude it; and I have no doubt that the gentle- 
men whose names are associated with mine 
in this cause, will be most happy to meet with 
and consult that Committee whenever it shall 
be in their power so to do. 

As it is not expected that any definite ac- 
tion will be had before next spring,* it is not 
necessary at this time to enter upon any de- 
tails of a plan for a work. In order that my 
views may be better understood, however, I 
simply say, that the general plan of "Gray's 
Elements of Scientific and Practical Agri- 
culture," published in Boston in 1842, strikes 
me very forcibly — only, it is entirely too brief, 
especially on practical subjects. The work 
should be as full and comprehensive as possi- 
ble, without making a book too large and ex- 
pensive for the purpose mentioned. Another 
important point should be to have it written 
in as sprightly and pleasing style as possible — 
such for instance as " Dana's Prize Essay on 
Manures," or the " Familiar Letters" of 
Liebig, &c. Questions for the pupils should, 
I think, be appended to each chapter or sec- 
tion. 

The next duty of the Committee I conceive 
will be to consult with teachers, and agree on 
the best mode to recommend to the Conven- 
tion for the introduction and prosecution of 
the study of Agriculture with the Text-Book 
that maybe recommended, so that there may 
be system and uniformity of teaching, &c. 

I regret that I have not had time to give 
this subject more consideration before writing, 
and to consult the other members of the Com- 

* fit will be seen by these proceedings, however, that 
' action,' satisfactory action, action ptomisiug the best 
results, has already occurred in reference to Text-boolcs 
as well as other matters— the Committee of Publication 
having offered a Premium of ^lOO for the best book of 
that kind, and some works being now in prepulation.J 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR PReMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



21 



mitlee. My suggestions are crude and hastily ' 
penned, and are submitted with much defer- 
ence, in hopes that some hint may prove of 
value: My only object is lo do good, and aid 
in any way in my power the orent cause of 
improvement in Agriculture — the foundation 
of all other improvements. 

Most respectfully, your obi. servt. 

M. B. BATEHAM. 

[From Gerrit Smith, dated Peterborough, July 9.] 
" Could such books as you propose to have 
published (under the resolutions adopted at 
the Annual Meeting, as printed in the third 
volume of Transactions of the State Agricul- 
tural Society) get into all our School Libra- 
ries, the Mind of this State would thereby be 
lifted up not a few degrees." 

OPINIONS IN NEW-ENGLAND. 

[From the late Secretary of the Board of Education in 

Connecticut.] 

Hartford, July 6, 1844. 
Henry O'Reillt, Esq., Recording Secretary, &.C, &c. 

Dear Sir — In reply to your note and Cir- 
cular, relative to the introduction of agricul- 
tural and horticultural studies into the schools, 
and of agricultural books into the libraries, 
school and social, of every state, I can at this 
time only express myself briefly and hurried- 
ly. The object strikes me as at once noble and 
useful, and perfectly practicable. The most ef- 
fectual way of reaching the heart of the matter, 
as far as the schools are concerned, is through 
an industrial and agricultural school, having 
for one of its objects the training of young 
men to become at once practical farmers and 
teachers — farmers in summer and teachers in 
winter — or teachers through the year. Our 
common schools at this time, and will for a 
long lime to come, in New England and New- 
York, depend on this class of teachers. And 
if the sons and daughters of our farmers were 
in the first place better educated than they now 
are, and could at the same time receive a 
practical knowledge of agriculture and horti- 
culture, as well as a theoretical and practical 
knowledge of teaching, while paying the ex- 
penses of instruction and board by a few 
hours labor each day, they would be the very 
best teachers which a large class of our dis- 
trict schools could or would be likely to em- 
ploy, as at present organized. Such teachers 
would sympathize with the habits and feelings 
of the children and their parents: their supe- 
rior education would impart a higher charac- 
ter and more liberal s|)irit to their own avoca 
tions.both as teachers and farmers; and by their 
daily conversation and incidental remarks, as 
weli in the school-room as out of it, they 
would communicate a large amount of practi- 
cal knowledge. Constant employment in one 
or the other capacity would yield a fair annual 
compensation, as compared with any other 
pursuit around them. 

An industrial and normal school, it seems 
to me, might be most advantageously estab- 



lished under the auspices of your society and 
the supervision (in part at least) of the Su- 
perintendent of Common Schools. A combi- 
nation of the plan and practices of the Batter- 
sea Training School, near London, and of the 
Agricultural School at Templemoyle, in Ire- 
land, and the Institute of Agriculture at Ho- 
henheim, in Wirtemburg, and the Normal 
School at Kruitzbingen, near Constance, in 
Switzerland, as well as some of our schools, 
such as that of the Female Seminary in Had- 
ley, Mass., and of the Van Rensselaer School 
in Troy, N. Y. — a combination of the plans 
and practices of these schools, with such al- 
terations as the somewhat peculiar character 
of the school would call for and suggest to a 
principal of good strong common sense, 
would meet my views of such an institution. 

I have no faith in the ultimate success and 
extensive usefulness of any Normal School 
which does not include within its arrangements 
the ways and means of enabling the young 
men and young women (the sonsind daugh- 
ters of our farmers, who resort to it for practi- 
cal instruction as teachers) to pay a large 
part of the expenses by their own labor. 

I should deprecate the introduction of either 
agriculture or horticulture as a new and dis- 
tinct branch in our common schools as at pre- 
sent organized. Too many studies are crowd- 
ed into them now. But a reading book might 
be prepared for the older classes in our district 
schools, which would serve at the same time 
for a text-book for oral instruction and expla- 
nation on the part of a teacher who understood 
the subject. 

When our common schools are re-organized, 
«o as to make what is now our district school 
a primary school, under female teachers — and 
bring the older and more advanced pupils of 
two or more districts into a secondary school, 
under a male teacher trained at an Agricul- 
tural Normal school, and especially when the 
older and more advanced pupils of a whole 
town are brought together into a Central 
High School, under teachers of superior at- 
tainments and thorough training in a well or- 
ganized Normal School — then we shall see 
Agriculture, as well as the first principles and 
leading processes of the various industrial 
pursuits of the community, advantageously in- 
troduced into our common schools. 

As for the introduction of Agricultural and 
Horticultural books into our school and social 
libraries, it seems to me that the first step is 
the formation of a library of this character, 
out of books now before the public, and of 
others which should be prepared by competent 
hands. It would not be difficult to get legis- 
latures in any of our northern states, composed 
as they generally are of a large proportion of 
farmers, orof persons fiee ling (or afTecting to 
feel) a deep interest in the farmers, to make 
a small ap])ropriation (or sending such a libra- 
rv into every town, if not to every district. 
At any rate, if the books are prepared and 
brought before the public eye, very many 



22 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



copies will find their way into them. * * * 
Excuse the haste and the imperfect manner 
in which I have noticed your communication, 
and believe me truly yours, &c. 

HENRY BARNARD. 

[Opinion of the Editor of the Boston Courier, J. T. 
Buckingham.] 

Agricultural Instruction. The 

New-York Agricultural Society — as we learn 
from a circular, issued by their Secretary, 
Henry O'Reilly, Esq., — is now making vigo- 
rous efforts for the promotion of Agriculture 
and Horticulture, through the instrumentality 
of the public schools and libraries, by urging 
the introduction of those subjects as branches 
of common education, and by furnishing the 
district libraries with books, illustrating cause 
and effect, in showing the connexion between 
science and farming, &c. Resolutions, to 
promote these objects, were adopted at the 
last annual meeting of the State Society; and 
premiums are offered to the amount of two 
hundred dollars, (aside from copy- right) for a 
series of essays, in one or more volumes, suit- 
able for text-books in the common school li- 
braries, and for use in the exercises of the 
schools. 

The State Convention of Common School 
Superintendents, after hearing a report of one 
of its committees on the subject, has manifest 
ed its approbation of the plan, and appointed 
a committee to co-operate with the State Agri- 
cultural Society in furtherance of the general 
object., The committees of these two bodies 
are to meet at Poughkeepsie, on Thursday 
next, the 11th, to make arrangements for 
carrying the proposition into effect. Gen- 
tlemen, to whom the Circulars are address- 
ed, are requested to communicate their views 
respecting the introduction of agricultural 
books and studies in the common schools, 
to the Hon. John Greig, Canandaigua, and 
such communications may be addressed to 
Henry O'Reilly, recording secretary of the 
State Agricultural Society, at Albany. 

This movement appears to us to be one of 
great importance, and one, that, if pursued to 
its legitimate results, will produce immense 
benefit. There is hardly any science, of 
which children not educated in a farming com- 
munity, are so entirely ignorant as that of 
agriculture. Almost every child of a dozen 
years of age, has learned something of me- 
chanical sciences, and can tell how houses 
and ships and mills and manufactories are con- 
structed — can describe the earth, geographi- 
cally considered — and knows the elementary 
principles of most of the physical sciences; 
but comparatively few of them, especially 
those who live in cities and thickly populated 
towns, can distinguish the different kinds of 
grains and grasses, or can tell why turnips are 
not planted in hills like potatoes, — what vege- 
table is most likely to grow on dry and sandy 
soil, and what on the more heavy and clayey 
ground — what is the appropriate food of differ- 
ent animals, or what are the properties and 



uses of the various kinds of trees and shrubs 
which embellish or enrich the face of the 
earth. 

We hope the attempt of the New-York Agri- 
cultural Society will prove eminently success- 
ful, and recommend a similar movement to 
our own agricultural and horticultural socie- 
ties, as one which promises utility, pleasure, 
and improvement. 

We take this occasion to call the attention 
of our readers to the advertisement of the New- 
York State Society, giving a programme of 
their " Agricultural Fair and Cattle Show," 
which is to be held at Poughkeepsie, in Sep- 
tember next. The Fair will probably be one 
of the most attractive that has been held in the 
United States. 

[From Mr. Buckminster, editor of the Massachusetts 
Plowman.] 

After publishing the Circular from the Sec- 
retary of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society, 
Mr. Buckminster says: 

" We have long thought that the reading' 
books of our common schools ought to contain 
more matter relating to agriculture. For fifty 
years past, our reading books in the common 
schools in New England have contained less 
relating to the cultivation of the earth than to 
almost any subject of general interest. In 
them much more is found on the science of 
government than on that of agriculture. Con- 
sequently, most of our grown boys of forty 
prefer a political paper to one that treats of 
matters relating directly to their own occupa- 
tion and means of supporting themselves and 
families. 

We hope to see a belter course of reading 
introduced into our common schools. We 
hope the time will come when our lads of six- 
teen shall become so familiar with writings on 
farming, that they will not dread to put a pen 
on paper to communicate their own thoughts 
and practices. 

In most of our schools where scholars are 
ever put to composition, they are directed to 
write on some metaphysical question — some 
abstruse subject of which the teacher has no 
clear ideas, and in which the scholar feels but 
little interest. 

Why not let him put on paper, words that 
convey ideas of sensible objects, instead of 
discussing abstruse subjects in which he can 
take no great interest, and which our wisest 
teachers but imperfectly understand.'' 

Our own opinion is that if proper school 
books, with reading lessons on the subject of 
farming interspersed, were introduced into 
our schools, it would be productive of many 
advantages. Parents would occasionally see 
such books, and they would learn not to stand 
in greater fear of them than they now do of an 
old almanac that contains a column on agricul- 
ture; and children, if not grown people, would 
stand a good chance to catch a new idea from 
them. 

True, if any farmer or mechanic is well sa- 
tisfied that he already knows more than all the 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION- 



23 



vest of the world, jointly and severally, he 
may bring up his oflspring- in private, and not 
suffer them to know the crooked patlis in mo- 
rals or in agriculture; though our most emi- 
nent men are in the practice of sending their 
children away from home for instruction. 

But while any parent is conscious that all 
knowledge is not confined to his own brain, 
that something may be added to his stock by 
an interchange of thought with his neighbor, 
he should not hesitate to make use of means 
to circulate knowledge. And it is as absurd 
for him to resolve he will not look at a book 
thit treats on husbandry as to determine not to 
read on any other subject. 

We are therefore pleased to see that the 
New-York State Society has offered such li- 
beral premi-ums to introduce school books and 
libraries relating to agriculture and horticul- 
ture. We need books for schools written by 
men of talent and general information; and 
those relating to agriculture and horticulture 
should by all means be composed by men prac- 
tically acquainted with the subject. 

The prejudices in the minds of most farmers 
against reading on the art of farming have 
arisen in no small degree from the wild theo- 
ries of writers who have not a competent ac- 
quaintance with farming operations. 

[From the Editor of the Boston Cultivator. J 

Cultivator Office, Boston, July 9th. 
Henry O'Reilly, Esq. 

Dear Sir — Your communications in 
regard to introducing Agricidture and Horti- 
culture into Public Schools and Libraries, 
were dtdy received, but owing to my absence 
they have been neglected; and now I have 
many things on my mind, and but a few 
minutes to devote to the subject. 

I think that we Avant in our schools short 
and comprehensive text books on Geology, 
Chemistry, Botany and Entomology — parti- 
cularly on those branches of these sciences 
that relate to Agriculture and Horticulture; 
and then we should have on these professions 
plain practical treatises, written in a pleasing 
and interesting manner, with appropriate re- 
marks on their paramount importance and uti- 
lity ; and some arrangements should be made in 
every town to give lectures with specimens, 
and also illustrations of these arts and sciences 
by practical operations in the fields and nur- 
series, &c. &c., in order that the scholar may 
learn underslandingly, and become intelligent 
and zealous in the good cause. 

Let us have good school-books; and then, 
instead of the scholar reading over and over 
about some famous cavern, noted river, or 
wonderful curiosity in some foreign land, or 
some famous general of ancient or modern 
times, let him learn the natural sciences; let 
him learn of the minerals and metals, the in- 
sects and animals, the plants and trees, around 
him; among which he lives and moves, and 
by which he has a being — a knowledge of 
which sciences are essential lo success in the 



prosecution of those pursuits which open a 
wide field, and give employment to almost all 
the human race, anl by which the whole are 
fed. 

To get books that seem familiar with the 
field and do not smack too much of the closet, 
is the great difficulty, both as to the facts them- 
selves, and the manner of communicating 
them; but first we must get the best we can, 
and then make improvements, as in every 
other science. These crude notions are thrown 
out in a hasty manner for consideration. 

I view with unspeakable pleasure the noble 
and patriotic exertions now in operation in 
the State of New-York to imi)rove Agricul- 
ture and Horticulture; and with the intelli- 
gence and energy in those that lead off in this 
important cause, there must be success. Mil- 
lions of the present and future generations 
will " call them blessed.'^ 

Respectfully, your humble servt. 

S. W. COLE. 

[From the Messrs. Harper, publishers, &c.] 

Nkw-York, July 9th, 1844. 
Hob. John Greig, Ch'n of Com. Stale Ag. Soc. &ci 

Dear Sir — In reply to the communica- 
tion of Henry O'Reilly, Esq. of yesterday, 
we beg to say, that we highly approve of the 
proposed plan for circulating agricultural in- 
formation throughout our Slate; and that we 
shall be happy to make an arrangement to pub- 
lish in the School Library, or otherwise, such 
volumes as may be prepared by the Society, 
for that purpose; being of a generally useful 
and popular character. 

Hoping to hear farther from the Society on 
the subject, we remain, with respect, 
Your obt. servants, 

HARPER & BROTHERS. 

[Concluding Proceedings of the Committee.] 
The foregoing and other letters having been 
submitted, and some extracts read explanato- 
ry of the sentiments of the various writers. 

The President (Dr. Beekman) remarked 
that the object had certainly been steadily and 
industriously, and he would add, successfully 
prosecuted; for success might be considered 
as measurably attained, when })ublic attention 
is aroused in the manner it is now aroused — 
when the Agrictdtural and Educational or- 
ganizations concur in advan(;ing the project; 
when various competent authors are engaged 
in preparing Agricultural and Horticultural 
works for text-books in the schools and for 
circulation from the thousands of district li- 
braries; and when enterprising publishers, at 
the head of the book-trade in America, are 
ready to promote the designs of the Society 
by incorporating into the School-District and 
Family Libraries such works on Agriculture 
and Horticulture, and the kindred arts and sci- 
ences, as (lie N. Y. State Agricultural Socie- 
ty may deem advantageous in promoting the 
welfare of society generally by imiuoving the 



24 



STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



condition of American Farming'. With con- 
gratulations to the Special Con:imi{tee on the 
course which had been so beneficially pur- 
sued, the President expressed his particular 
satisfaction at witnessing the interest which 
the chairman of that Committee (the Hon. 
John Greig) had manifested in the whole sub- 
ject, by attending this meeting, at a point re- 
mote from his residence in the West. 

The following resolutions were then, on mo- 
tion of Mr. Walsh of Lansingburgh, unani- 
mously adopted: 

Resolved, That the members of the Execu- 
tive Committee of the New-York State Agri- 
cultural Society have witnessed with great 
satisfaction the efforts made by the special 
committee for introducing Agricultural and 
Horticultural works into the Common Schools 
and District Libraries throughout the State — 
that the co-operation of the State Convention 
of School Superintendents, and the individual 
zeal of many of those Superintendents, are 
particularly encouraging — that the Executive 
Committee have also heard with great satis- 
faction that several able authors are preparing 
books for publication'; and that enterprizing 
publishers are ready to issue such works as 
may be recommended by the Special Com- 
mittee in behalf of the Slate Society. 

Resolved also, That a portion of the cor- 
respondence and other proceedings on these 
subjects be published, and that copies be sent 
to the Agricultural Societies and literary in- 
stitutinns in this and other States, to the mem- 
bers and correspondents of this Society, and 
to the Superintendents of Schools throughout 
this State, in the hope of procuring a still 
wider co-operation in furthering the policy 
shadowed forth by the resolutions of the N. 
Y. State Agricultural Society at its last An- 
nual Meeting in January, 1844. 

The Executive Committee then, on motion 
of Mr. B. P. Johnson of Oneida, adjourned 
till the regular monthly meeting in August 
at Albany — the proceedings to be published 



as usual in the State Paper, in the Agricul- 
tural Journals, in the District School Journal, 
and in such other papers as will allow an in- 
sertion. HENRY O'RIELLY, R. Sec. 



NOTICE. 

The Committee of Publication, in accor- 
dance with the sentiments expressed by many 
friends of the cause, hereby suggest a fur- 
ther Premium of One Hundred Dollars to the', 
author of the best Text-Book on Agriculture,,^ 
for the use of Schools. This premityD, added 
to those already specified, will be awarded at 
the Annual Meeting of the State Society in 
January, 1845 ; and manuscripts should be sent 
to the Recording Secretary before the first of 
that month — at which time also, other manu-^ 
scripts designed for competition,should be sent 
in. These hundred-dollar premiums are ex- 
clusive of copy-right; and the Committee will 
afford all practicable assistance to the authors 
in procuring the publication of their respec- 
tive works. 

It would afford the Committee satisfaction 
to hear the views of any friends of the cause; 
and such expressions of opinion are respect- 
fully invited from individuals and societies to 
whom copies of this pamphlet are directed. 

The Committee, before concluding this note, 
must express the gratification excited by the 
promptness with which they have been fur- 
nished with the views of many intelligent 
friends on the points embraced in the Circu- 
lar, concerning 'text Books for Schools and 
Libraries. And attention is now invoked to 
the propriety of rendering Agriculture and 
Horticulture subjects of study and exercise in 
the State Normal School which is now going 
into operation at Albany. The training of 
teachers in this great model school may be 
made largely serviceable in diffusing Agricul- 
tural knowledge through the whole Common 
School system, and the thousands of District 
Libraries. JOHN GREIG, 

Ch^n of Com. of Publication. 

Henry O'Reilly, Secretary. 



OPINION OF MR. WADSWORTH. 

Extract from the valedictory communication of James S- Wadsworth, Ex-President of the State Societ/, referred 
to on a former page introductory to Mr. Greig's Report. 

" The Society has recently adopted a measure from which much good is anticipated. It is 
proposed to prepare volumes of Selections from the Prize Essays of the Society, and that these 
be offered to some enterprizing publishers, with the view of having them printed in form suit- 
able for incorporation with the School District Libraries. Liberal premiums are also offered 
for the best [Text- Books and] series of Essays on the Importance of Scientific Knowledge in 
connexion with the Ordinary Pursuits of Agriculture ; with the design of having those works 
also included in the proposed volumes on agricultural subjects for the District Libraries. It 
is believed that those valuable fountains of popular knowledge will be greatly enriched by 
the volumes embodying the best of the Prize Essays, and that the sanction and recommenda- 
tion of this Society wiU lead to their general introduction throughout this State, if not in other 
States. It is regarded as not only the duty of the Society to encourage and promote the dis- 
coveries and developm'ents of science as connected with rural pursuits, but to spread the re- 
sults thus attained among the mass of practical and laboring farmers. In the attainment of 
this latter object, it is believed that no more effectual instrument can be employed, for reach- 
in"- boih the rising generation and the adult population, than the School District Libraries. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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